Bengals beat Falcons 34-17 in Madrid: the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain. Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score, while Ja’Marr Chase caught 10 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. The win moved Cincinnati to 6-2 and gave the Bengals their fourth straight victory. Atlanta fell to 3-6 with its second straight defeat. The game kicked off at 9:30 a.m. ET in front of an announced crowd of 78,660 fans.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final score | Cincinnati Bengals 34, Atlanta Falcons 17 |
| Date | Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
| Venue | Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain |
| Kickoff | 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Attendance | 78,660 |
| Joe Burrow | 24 of 29 passes, 271 yards, 3 touchdown passes, 1 rushing touchdown |
| Ja’Marr Chase | 10 catches, 155 yards, 1 touchdown |
| Tee Higgins | 5 catches, 32 yards, 2 touchdowns |
| Bijan Robinson | 100 rushing yards, 1 touchdown |
| Halftime score | Bengals 24, Falcons 10 |
| Bengals record | 6-2, fourth straight win |
| Falcons record | 3-6, second straight defeat |
| Next game for Cincinnati | Host Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday night, November 15, at Paycor Stadium |
Bengals Beat Falcons: Burrow Stays Hot in Spain
Joe Burrow put together another sharp performance in Madrid. He completed 24 of his 29 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, and he also scored on a 1-yard sneak, which gave him four total touchdowns on the day. His passer rating was 140.1, a number that shows how much control he had from the first drive to the last.
The game marked the fourth straight contest in which Burrow has thrown at least three touchdown passes. It was also the fifth time in his last six games that he has reached that mark. Burrow spread the ball around, took what the defense gave him, and punished Atlanta whenever it left a gap.
After one touchdown, Burrow celebrated by imitating a celebration made famous by Brazil soccer great Neymar, a fitting touch in a soccer stadium. He was also coming off a huge game the week before, when he threw five touchdown passes and rushed for another score in a 43-36 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans.
The Bengals scored on every first half possession, with three touchdowns and a field goal.
Chase Takes Over Early
Ja’Marr Chase was the star of the first half. He caught 10 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown, and he already had 142 yards by halftime, which meant Atlanta had no answer for him before the break. His touchdown came on a 47-yard catch, a play that stretched the field and lifted the crowd.
Chase runs routes with a mix of speed and power that makes him hard to cover one on one. In Madrid, the Falcons tried different looks against him, but Burrow kept finding him in space, and Chase turned short throws into long gains.
The connection between Burrow and Chase has been one of the best in the league for years, and games like this one show why. Burrow trusts Chase to win his matchup, and Chase trusts Burrow to put the ball where only he can get it. That trust showed on the 47-yard touchdown, a play that broke the game open and gave Cincinnati a lead it would never give back.
Higgins Finds the End Zone Twice
While Chase piled up yards, Tee Higgins did the scoring work in the red zone. Higgins caught five passes for 32 yards, and two of those catches went for touchdowns. His yardage total was modest, but his impact was large. In a game where points came in bunches, Higgins delivered when the Bengals needed to finish drives.
Higgins has a talent for finding space near the goal line. He uses his size and body control to shield defenders and make tough catches look routine. Both of his touchdown catches came in spots where Burrow needed a reliable target, and Higgins came through each time.
The balance between Chase and Higgins is one of the reasons the Bengals have scored 30 or more points in four straight games. It is the first time Cincinnati has done that since 1997. When two receivers can hurt a defense in different ways, the offense becomes hard to plan against. Chase stretches the field and gains yards in chunks. Higgins works the middle of the field and finishes drives with touchdowns. Together, they give Burrow options on almost every play.
Falcons Fight Back but Penalties Hurt
Atlanta did not quit, and the Falcons had moments that showed why they can be dangerous. Bijan Robinson ran for 100 yards and a touchdown, and he gave the Atlanta offense a steady threat on the ground. When Robinson gets going, he can change a game with one run. He kept drives alive and gave the Falcons a chance to stay in touch.
The Falcons also got help from penalties. Atlanta was flagged 12 times for 88 yards, but the flags that hurt Cincinnati most were two pass interference calls on DJ Turner II. Those two calls set up both Falcons touchdowns. Without them, Atlanta would have had a much harder time reaching the end zone.
Even so, Atlanta could not keep pace. At halftime, the score was 24-10 in favor of Cincinnati. Nick Folk missed a 38-yard field goal for Atlanta, while Evan McPherson kicked a 43-yard field goal to make the score 34-17 and close the scoring. The loss dropped Atlanta to 3-6, its second straight defeat.
A Night of Firsts in Madrid
The game had one more surprise in the final two minutes. The stadium lights went out briefly, and play stopped while the issue was sorted out. When play resumed, the down was replayed. It was a strange moment in a game already full of talking points, and it added to the sense that this was a day unlike any other in the NFL season.
The venue itself was part of the story. Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is one of the most famous soccer grounds in the world, and it hosted its second NFL regular season game on Sunday. The first game in Madrid took place last year, when the Miami Dolphins beat the Washington Commanders 16-13 in overtime. That game was the inaugural NFL game in the country.
The announced crowd of 78,660 showed how strong the interest in the NFL is in Spain. Fans filled the stadium early and stayed loud through the game.
The Madrid game was the seventh of a record nine international games in the 2026 season, with Munich and Mexico City still to come.
What the Win Means for the AFC North
The win moved Cincinnati to 6-2 and kept the Bengals tied with the Steelers atop the AFC North. That tie sets up a huge game next week, when Cincinnati hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday night, November 15, at Paycor Stadium. The division race is tight, and head to head games will matter a lot in the weeks ahead.
Four straight wins have changed the mood around the Bengals. The offense is scoring at a high level, the quarterback is playing some of the best football of his career, and the team has found a rhythm. Scoring 30 or more points in four straight games for the first time since 1997 is a sign of how consistent this group has become. It is not just one hot week. It is a stretch of games where the offense has delivered again and again.
The next test will be much tougher. Pittsburgh is tied with Cincinnati at the top of the division, and a Sunday night game at Paycor Stadium will bring a big crowd and a loud atmosphere. The Bengals will need the same sharp play from Burrow, the same big plays from Chase, and the same red zone finishing from Higgins.
For Atlanta, the road ahead looks harder. At 3-6, the Falcons need to fix the penalties and find more consistency on offense.
Fans who want more from around the league can catch up on how the Bears beat the Seahawks 34-17 on Monday night, the Eagles starting Joe Milton at quarterback in Week 9 against the Giants, and the update on Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel likely being out for the 49ers and Raiders in Week 9.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Bengals Falcons game in Madrid?
The Bengals beat the Falcons 34-17 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Cincinnati led 24-10 at halftime and never gave up the lead. Evan McPherson kicked a 43-yard field goal late in the game to make the final score 34-17.
How did Joe Burrow play against the Falcons?
Joe Burrow completed 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards and three touchdown passes. He also scored on a 1-yard sneak, giving him four total touchdowns in the game. His passer rating was 140.1. It was his fourth straight game with at least three touchdown passes and the fifth such game in his last six outings.
How many yards did Ja’Marr Chase have in Madrid?
Ja’Marr Chase caught 10 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown. He had 142 yards by halftime. His touchdown came on a 47-yard catch. Tee Higgins also scored twice, catching five passes for 32 yards and two touchdowns.
Who do the Bengals play next after beating the Falcons?
The Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, November 15, at Paycor Stadium. Cincinnati is 6-2 and tied with the Steelers atop the AFC North, so the game will have a big impact on the division race. Atlanta fell to 3-6 with the loss, its second straight defeat.
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Final Thoughts
Bengals beat Falcons 34-17 in Madrid, and the Bengals left with more than a win. They left with a fourth straight victory, a tie for first place in the AFC North, and an offense that has now scored 30 or more points in four straight games for the first time since 1997. Joe Burrow played like a quarterback at the top of his game, Ja’Marr Chase gave the crowd in Spain a show, and Tee Higgins finished drives with two touchdowns. The Falcons fought hard behind Bijan Robinson, but penalties and missed chances kept them from keeping pace.
Now the focus turns to Pittsburgh. A Sunday night game at Paycor Stadium, with first place in the division on the line, is exactly the kind of game this Bengals team has been building toward. If Burrow, Chase, and Higgins keep playing at this level, Cincinnati will be a tough team to beat in November and beyond.
