NFL Madrid Game Preview: Falcons and Bengals take centre stage at the Bernabéu
By Simon Carroll
The NFL returns to Madrid for a second time as the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals bring regular-season football to one of European football’s most iconic venues. With Joe Burrow and Bijan Robinson among the headline attractions, there is plenty at stake beyond the occasion itself.
The NFL’s international expansion continues this weekend, and there can be few more spectacular settings for its latest overseas venture than the Santiago Bernabéu. Home of Real Madrid, the stadium will welcome the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday as the league returns to Spain for its second regular-season game in the country.
For the NFL, this is about much more than taking a game overseas. It is another opportunity to build on an increasingly significant international following, introduce new audiences to the sport and demonstrate that American football can command attention well beyond its traditional home.
For the two teams involved, however, the business of winning remains the priority.
The NFL takes over the Bernabéu
The NFL and Real Madrid are putting the finishing touches on the field at Bernabéu ahead of the Falcons-Bengals game Sunday. It’s a beautiful stadium https://t.co/LmxjLtdRgN
— Victor Prieto (@victorprieto_11) November 5, 2026
Madrid is becoming an increasingly important destination in the NFL’s international ambitions. Last season’s meeting between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders marked the league’s first regular-season game in Spain, with Miami claiming a narrow 16-13 victory.
The return is part of an increasingly ambitious international schedule, with the NFL staging nine games outside the United States during the 2026 season. Seven countries across four continents are involved, underlining the league’s determination to turn international fixtures into a permanent feature of its calendar.
Spain is an especially interesting market. The NFL has identified an audience of approximately 11 million fans in the country, while its investment in grassroots development is also gathering momentum. NFL Flag, the non-contact version of the sport, launched in Spain in 2024, with programmes already reaching schools in Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza.
There is also a significant opportunity to introduce the sport to a new generation ahead of flag football’s Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
The Bernabéu is an ideal venue for that ambition. Recently transformed into one of the world’s most impressive sporting arenas, it offers a global stage and an unmistakably different atmosphere from the traditional NFL experience.
Atlanta will be the designated home team, but this is hardly unfamiliar territory for the Falcons. Sunday’s appearance will be their sixth regular-season game outside the United States and fifth in Europe. It is also their fourth European trip in six seasons, following previous appearances in London and Berlin.
For Cincinnati, meanwhile, it is another opportunity to take the Bengals brand to an international audience, with the franchise having previously played overseas.
The spectacle should be considerable. The question is whether the football can match it.
Burrow and the Bengals bring the firepower
Joe Burrow leads the league in passing TDs through Week 8 💪 https://t.co/fH3WVNCmvJ
— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2026
Cincinnati arrives in Madrid with a 5-2 record and three consecutive victories, although last weekend’s 43-36 overtime success against the Tennessee Titans was hardly straightforward.
Joe Burrow was instrumental in dragging his team over the line, and the quarterback is enjoying an excellent campaign. Through seven games, he has thrown for 2,115 yards, completing 73% of his passes for 20 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Those numbers tell their own story. Cincinnati is averaging 29.4 points per game, the second-highest figure in the NFL, while its 368.7 yards per game ranks seventh.
Burrow’s relationship with Ja’Marr Chase remains one of the league’s most dangerous quarterback-receiver combinations, while Tee Higgins provides another substantial threat on the opposite side of the formation.
Higgins has already accumulated 726 receiving yards and four touchdowns, while Drake London leads Atlanta’s receiving corps with 624 yards.
The first major question is whether Atlanta can generate enough pressure to disrupt Burrow’s rhythm.
The Falcons have actually been impressive in that department. They have pressured opposing quarterbacks on 40% of dropbacks, the sixth-highest rate in the NFL, despite blitzing on just 24.8% of plays, the sixth-lowest rate.
That ability to create pressure without committing additional defenders is particularly important against a quarterback of Burrow’s quality. Atlanta’s interior defensive line has been a significant contributor, with Brandon Dorlus and Gervon Dexter Sr. leading the team in pressures.
If they can collapse the pocket and prevent Burrow from comfortably working through his progressions, the Falcons have a chance of making life uncomfortable for Cincinnati’s passing attack.
However, there is little room for error. Burrow has the weapons to punish defensive mistakes, and Atlanta’s secondary will need to remain disciplined against Chase and Higgins.
Bijan Robinson could hold the key for Atlanta
After 8 weeks Bijan Robinson still leads the NFL in rushing with 780 yards He faced the 2nd, 5th, & 4th ranked rushing defenses the last 3 weeks https://t.co/3U2PqkfKVp
— Not Bijan (@InBijanWeTrust) November 4, 2026
While Cincinnati’s passing attack is likely to attract plenty of attention, the most important player for Atlanta could be running back Bijan Robinson.
Robinson has been outstanding this season, leading the NFL with 780 rushing yards through eight games. His 5.2 yards per carry is particularly impressive, while his 983 yards from scrimmage rank fourth in the league.
He has also forced 44 missed tackles, demonstrating just how difficult he is to bring down in the open field.
Atlanta desperately needs him to deliver another significant performance.
The Falcons are coming off a miserable 16-0 defeat against Tampa Bay, a game in which they struggled to establish any offensive rhythm. Michael Penix Jr. threw four interceptions, while the Buccaneers dominated on the ground, accumulating 324 rushing yards.
It was a performance Atlanta will want to put behind it quickly.
There is some encouragement in the matchup, though. Cincinnati’s defence has been considerably more vulnerable against the pass than the run this season, ranking fifth in the NFL for lowest rushing success rate allowed at just 33.3%.
That makes Robinson’s involvement particularly interesting. If Atlanta can establish the run, it can take some of the pressure off Penix, control possession and prevent Burrow from enjoying too many opportunities.
The Bengals will be looking to make that difficult. Their defensive front has shown an ability to disrupt opposing rushing attacks, and limiting Robinson’s influence would force Atlanta to rely more heavily on its quarterback.
There is another factor worth considering: Atlanta’s passing game has been at its best when Penix gets the football out quickly. His average time to throw of 2.59 seconds is the second-fastest in the NFL among eligible quarterbacks.
With London and tight end Kyle Pitts available as reliable targets, the Falcons have the personnel to move the chains. They simply need to avoid the costly mistakes that proved so damaging against Tampa Bay.
A big opportunity for both teams
There is plenty riding on this one.
Cincinnati is attempting to maintain its position in the AFC North and continue building momentum towards a playoff push. The Bengals have the offensive firepower to trouble anybody, but their performance against Tennessee demonstrated that they are not immune to mistakes.
Atlanta, meanwhile, needs a response. At 3-5, the Falcons cannot afford to allow last weekend’s defeat to become the beginning of another disappointing run. Their season is far from beyond repair, but Sunday’s fixture represents an important opportunity to get things moving in the right direction.
The international setting adds another layer to the occasion. Both teams will want to represent their organisations and the NFL well in front of a global audience, but there is no substitute for putting together a convincing performance.
The Bengals have the more established passing attack and arrive in better form. Atlanta’s best route to an upset is through Robinson, a productive running game and a defensive front capable of disrupting Burrow.
It should be an entertaining afternoon in Madrid, and another important chapter in the NFL’s international story.
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SIMON CARROLL
Lead Writer, Head of Content
PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST, COVERS THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS FOR SB NATION and is A college football writer for dazn.
