Bengals Arrive in Madrid for Falcons Game

The Bengals landed in Madrid on Wednesday for their international matchup with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The game is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. EST.

Quarterback Joe Burrow drew attention in a Pikachu outfit as he boarded the team’s flight. The players had completed their usual Wednesday work earlier in the week, and the schedule now shifts toward adjusting to local time.

Coach Zac Taylor said the international trip moved the week’s routine forward, allowing the team to travel Tuesday night. He said the schedule is not more demanding for players, though it adds some strain for coaches, and compares the adjustment to preparing for a Monday night game on a short week.

The Bengals planned to practice Thursday and Friday on their normal routine, with sessions timed to match morning practice back in Cincinnati. Taylor said the team would also walk through the stadium on Saturday. International stadium rules typically keep visiting teams off the painted end zones during walk-throughs, and Atlanta, as the home team, gets the first turn.