Bengals rout Falcons in Madrid as Burrow throws for 271 yards

Joe Burrow completed 24 of his first 26 passes in the opening stretch of the game against Atlanta. The quarterback finished the contest with 271 passing yards on 24 of 29 attempts and three touchdown passes.

The performance marked Burrow's strongest showing in the current MVP conversation. He followed a week where he had six total touchdowns in an overtime win against the Titans. In that previous game, he threw three interceptions. Against the Falcons, he looked more comfortable on the field. He is a two-time finalist for the award and is building a case to win it this year.

Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase contributed 155 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions. That is a season high for him. The receiving corps supported Burrow effectively in the Madrid stadium.

Running back Chase Brown provided a surprise element for the offense. He recorded his first carry of 15 or more yards this season. He also added other explosive runs. Brown finished with 57 yards on nine carries, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt. Samaje Perine added 43 yards on 11 carries. The dynamic rushing attack has been a missing piece for Cincinnati all season.

The Bengals will host the Steelers on Sunday night. Their next opponent presents a different challenge than the Falcons.

Atlanta fell to 3-6 with the loss. The defeat raised questions about the team's approach to the trade deadline. Safety Jessie Bates III is a free agent after this season and has been mentioned as a trade candidate. However, the Falcons believe they can still win the NFC South division. Half of their losses occurred while Cooper Rush started or during heavy rain. The team has not made the playoffs since 2017.

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had a mixed game. He rushed for a career-high 50 yards. He also completed 20 of 31 passes for one touchdown and one interception. He averaged 5.2 yards per attempt on the ground and in the air. The Falcons host the Chiefs next Sunday afternoon. Wide receiver Drake London had five targets and scored 11.8 fantasy points despite a favorable matchup.