Falons face Cincinnati's surge in Madrid after Florida rain loss
Atlanta’s offense must rebound from a shutout while defending Joe Burrow’s high-powered attack in Spain.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
The Atlanta Falcons will face a different defensive problem in Madrid this Sunday than the one that cost them last week in Florida. Instead of battling weather, head coach Kevin Stefanski is preparing his unit to stop a Cincinnati Bengals offense that just put up 43 points.
The Falcons lost 16-0 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in heavy rain on Sunday. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw four interceptions in that game. The Bucs held Atlanta scoreless despite having no completions of their own.
Stefanski said the weekly challenges in the league are distinct. He noted that the specific difficulties of the Florida game will not repeat in Spain. However, he emphasized the unique threat posed by the Bengals and their quarterback, Joe Burrow.
Burrow led a rally against the Tennessee Titans last week. He threw five touchdown passes and ran for a score in overtime. The Bengals won that game 43-36. Burrow also threw for 462 yards, marking his second 400-yard game of the season.
Cincinnati’s receiving corps remained productive in that win. Wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both surpassed 100 receiving yards. This marks the fourth time since 2021 that the pair has done so in the same game. Higgins caught 10 balls for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Chase added 11 receptions for 141 yards and a score.
Stefanski called Chase and Higgins outstanding skill players. He said their presence challenges defenses schematically and physically. Safety Xavier Watts agreed, describing the Bengals as an explosive unit. He said the defense aims to limit big plays and force turnovers to disrupt their rhythm.
The Falcons’ offense also seeks a reset. Stefanski said the group is eager to return to its usual form after the shutout. Wide receiver Jahan Dotson viewed the international trip as a way to move past the recent loss. He described the flight to another country as a positive opportunity for the team.
Injury updates were released Wednesday. Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. participated in the walkthrough after missing the first eight games due to an arrest. Stefanski did not specify how many snaps Pearce would play on Sunday. Linebacker Divine Deablo and running back Brian Robinson were listed as limited participants. Defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. returned to full practice.
