Bengals chase 31-point minimum in Madrid

The Cincinnati Bengals aim to extend a three-game winning streak against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 8.

Kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m. ET at the Bernabéu in Madrid, with the contest airing on NFL Network and streaming via fubo. The matchup marks the second consecutive year American football has been staged at the venue. Cincinnati enters the game with a 1-1 record in its previous international appearances, including a tie and a loss dating back to 2019. Atlanta holds a 2-3 record in overseas play, with its most recent defeat occurring in Berlin last season.

The Bengals have scored at least 31 points in each of their last three victories. Quarterback Joe Burrow leads the league with 20 touchdown passes and maintains a 111.6 passer rating. That mark sits 0.1 points behind the league leader. Burrow missed a combined 16 games over the prior three seasons due to injuries. Wide receiver Tee Higgins matches teammate Ja'Marr Chase in production, with both players recording 61 targets and 43 receptions through the first seven games. Higgins has amassed 726 receiving yards, a total that ranks second in the NFL behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The Falcons dropped two of their last three games, including a scoreless loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8. Despite that result, Atlanta remains within half a game of the NFC South lead in a division where no team has reached a .500 win percentage through the first two months of the season. Running back Bijan Robinson leads the league with 780 rushing yards. Wide receiver Drake London has 624 receiving yards, placing him sixth in the league. The Falcons previously contained quarterback Brock Purdy during a Week 7 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Cincinnati's defense allowed 36 points to the Tennessee Titans in its previous contest. Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed eight of 24 passes in the rain against Tampa Bay. The Falcons may receive a boost from second-year pass rusher James Pearce Jr., who is eligible for his season debut following reinstatement after an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Pearce recorded 10.5 sacks as a rookie while starting only three games.

Pearce faces felony charges stemming from an offseason domestic dispute and is on track to have those charges dropped. He returns to a defense that ranks sixth in the league in quarterback pressure rate. Both teams sit half a game behind their respective division leaders heading into the Week 9 matchup.