MADRID (AP) — Final week, it was unhealthy climate. This time, will probably be Joe Burrow and Cincinnati’s red-hot offense.
Atlanta Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski expects a special sort of problem when his workforce takes on the Bengals in Madrid on Sunday, after struggling in heavy rain in Florida final week.
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The Falcons appeared dismal in a 16-0 loss at Tampa Bay as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw 4 interceptions and the Buccaneers dominated regardless of having no completions.
“This league is so distinctive in that week-to-week the challenges are completely different,” Stefanski mentioned. “So clearly the challenges of final week have been final week and I do not anticipate those self same challenges.
“However, hear, it is only a completely different deal if you go up in opposition to Joe Burrow and this offense and what they’re able to doing and the way they play. It is positively one which you need to be ready for and it is why we’re working so exhausting.”
Burrow threw 5 landing passes and ran for a rating in additional time because the Bengals rallied for a 43-36 win over the Tennessee Titans at house final week. He threw for 462 yards in his second 400-yard sport this season.
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Huge receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins topped 100 receiving yards in the identical sport for the fourth time since 2021. Higgins had 10 receptions for 155 yards and two TDs and Chase added 11 catches for 141 yards and a rating.
“Excellent gamers,” Stefanski mentioned. “Having two extensive receiver playmakers like they’ve, I do not know if anyone within the league has guys like that. They problem you in a bunch of various methods, each schematically and simply the gamers, these are excellent talent gamers that they’ve.”
Security Xavier Watts mentioned it could be alternative for the protection to rebound after a “bizarre sport” final week that left the workforce with “a chip on our shoulder.”
“Joe Burrow is a superb quarterback, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase are nice receivers,” Watts mentioned. “You simply restrict their explosive performs. They’re an explosive offense, and that is the factor with protection, simply sort of restrict their explosives and like I mentioned, attempt to get takeaways and throw them off their rhythm.”
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Stefanski mentioned it is an opportunity for the Falcons’ offense to rebound as nicely after the shutout in opposition to the Buccaneers.
“Clearly, offensively, we’re enthusiastic about getting again to who we’re. We’re so enthusiastic about getting again being who we at all times are,” he mentioned.
“I really feel very strongly concerning the gamers we’ve. I really feel actually robust concerning the coaches we’ve, and I feel it is a matter of continuous to every week, attempting to get slightly bit higher every week, that offers us an opportunity.”
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