The Atlanta Falcons square off against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive after a heartbreaking loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They’ll need several offensive players to bounce back from last week’s loss, and others to step up in critical matchups if the Falcons want to be celebrating a win on the flight home.
Intriguing players to watch in Falcons vs. Bengals
Naming five Falcons who must bounce back in Madrid to spark an international fiesta and save Atlanta’s playoff hopes.
Michael Penix
Quarterback Michael Penix most needs a rebound game after playing the worst game of his career, tossing an uncharacteristic four interceptions against the Bucs. Penix has generally done an excellent job protecting the football and limiting negative plays throughout his career, so last week’s performance feels like an outlier.
With Penix promising he’ll “shake back” after last week’s loss, seeing how that plays out on Sunday morning in Madrid will go a long way toward showing his resiliency as a passer. His injury history has made him resilient through the physical and mental hurdles of playing quarterback, so this should be another test.
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