Bengals
FalconsJoe Burrow put on a quarterback clinic!
We picked Atlanta 27–24, but Cincinnati had other plans. The Falcons actually ran the football more effectively, yet Burrow completely controlled this game through the air.
S³ Game Breakdown
JOE BURROW
140.1
Passer rating
24/29 • 271 YDS • 3 TD • 0 INT
MICHAEL PENIX JR.
74.9
Passer rating
20/31 • 162 YDS • 1 TD • 1 INT
Team comparison
| Statistic | CIN | ATL |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 388 | 319 |
| Passing yards (net) | 265 | 162 |
| Rushing yards | 123 | 157 |
| Yards per play | 7.1 | 5.8 |
| Red zone | 3/4 | 2/4 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Penalties | 6–43 | 12–88 |
Three things decided this game
- Burrow was almost unstoppable. He completed 82.8% of his passes, threw three touchdowns, added a rushing touchdown and didn't turn the ball over. Atlanta managed two sacks, but that wasn't enough to disrupt Cincinnati's passing game.
- Ja'Marr Chase destroyed Atlanta's coverage. Ten receptions, 155 yards and a 47-yard touchdown. Chase alone finished just seven yards shy of Atlanta's entire net passing total. Tee Higgins added two touchdowns.
- Atlanta wasted its rushing advantage. Bijan Robinson rushed for 100 yards, and Penix added 50 on just three carries. Atlanta averaged 6.5 yards per rush, compared with Cincinnati's 5.1. Yet the Falcons finished with just 162 passing yards and committed 12 penalties.
The turning point
Atlanta led 10–7 after the first quarter. Cincinnati responded with 17 unanswered points to lead 24–10 at halftime.
Atlanta cut the lead to 24–17 in the third quarter, but Burrow immediately answered with a 73-yard touchdown drive capped by an eight-yard pass to Higgins.
S³ takeaway: Cincinnati didn't need to dominate the ground game. The Bengals won through quarterback efficiency, explosive receiving and cleaner execution.
And here's what really interests me: Atlanta rushed for 157 yards, allowed zero sacks, and still lost by 17 points. That tells you how much the passing-game disparity and penalties mattered.
