Falcons face major defensive test against Joe Burrow, Bengals’ high-powered offense

The Atlanta Falcons' defense faces a significant challenge against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals' high-powered offense in Madrid, Spain. Cincinnati has scored at least 30 points in every game since Week 5, drawing strong praise from Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Ulbrich noted that Burrow is playing the best football of his career while acknowledging that Atlanta's defense has not yet played anywhere close to its potential.

Atlanta enters the Week 9 matchup managing several roster shifts on defense. Billy Bowman Jr. returns from a hamstring injury, and linebacker Divine Deablo is questionable to return from a forearm issue. Meanwhile, edge rusher Samson Ebukam was placed on injured reserve, and James Pearce Jr. may make his season debut on a pitch count following an eight-game suspension, pending a recent back flare-up.