Bengals schedule release: How Joe Burrow helped land Cincinnati's international game
CBS Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The Cincinnati Bengals will play an international NFL game in Madrid, Spain, against the Atlanta Falcons in 2026, marking the Bengals' first international game since 2019 and their first in this decade.
- Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who has never played internationally, openly expressed disappointment in 2025 when the Bengals were not selected for an international game, which reportedly influenced the NFL's decision to schedule them in Spain this year.
- Burrow has been actively promoting the NFL's global growth, including participating in Netflix's "Quarterback" series to help expand the game's international fanbase, and hopes the Bengals can help elevate the NFL's presence worldwide.
- The Bengals and their coach Zac Taylor view the international game as a significant opportunity to promote the team and the NFL globally, with Burrow expressing a desire to arrive early in Spain for acclimation and team bonding.
- The Bengals aim to secure their first-ever international win, having previously gone 0-1-1 in two international outings, joining six other NFL teams still seeking their first international victory.