Falcons Face Bengals: Madrid weather and passing threats

The Atlanta Falcons arrived in Madrid on Wednesday to prepare for a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The game is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The Falcons currently hold a 3-5 record, while the Bengals sit at 5-2.

The weather in Spain was cold enough to require hoodies and sweatpants. It was not raining, a change from last Sunday's heavy downpour and violent winds in Tampa. That stormy environment accompanied the Falcons' 16-0 loss to the Buccaneers. Safety Xavier Watts noted that the team had a different mood this week because the weather was good.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins said the team is looking forward to a better week of practice. He added that they want this week to be a good one. The Falcons are trying to shake off a rough stretch that included a 4-13 loss to Tampa.

The Falcons' running game has hit a wall. Over the last two games, the team has averaged 118.4 rushing yards. Their season average stands at 35.8 yards per game. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. said the team does not have a single identity for the ball. He noted that the running game has not had much positive effect over the last four games. The Falcons have been better from the start of the season, but the recent struggles are hard.

The Bengals present a steep challenge for the Falcons' secondary. Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase have both been targeted 61 times this season. They have both caught 43 passes. Together, they have more receiving yards than any other duo in the NFL. Safety Xavier Watts called them two of the best players in the league. He said the Falcons will have to find creative solutions and adjust the game plan to handle their speed.

Linebacker James Pearce Jr. returned to full team practice on Wednesday. He missed the start of the season due to a knee injury. He also had a late-season ankle injury last year. The linebacker said he felt good getting back to work and helping his teammates. He added that he will have a good week.

The Falcons' injury report lists four players as fully participating. Those include defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. with a hamstring issue, wide receiver Beaux Collins with a hip injury, defensive end James Pearce Jr. for non-injury reasons, and offensive tackle Cameron Williams with an ankle problem. Three players are listed as limited: linebacker Yasir Abdullah with a hamstring issue, linebacker Divine Deablo with a forearm injury, and running back Brian Robinson Jr. with a hamstring issue. Wide receiver Zachariah Branch did not participate.

No practice reports have been missed this week for the hamstring-injured players. Bowman, Deablo, Branch, and Robinson are all ready for the game. The team will focus on preparing for the Bengals' passing attack and managing their own offensive struggles.