The Cincinnati Bengals are getting more and more into their stride. In the home game of the reigning AFC champion against the Atlanta Falcons, especially the offense around Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase comes up trumps.

Munich – The Cincinnati Bengals are approaching their form from last season. In a clash of two in-form teams with balanced records, February’s Super Bowl contender defeated the Atlanta Falcons 35-17 (28-17) thanks largely to their potent offence. It was the fourth win from the past five games.

The hosts opened the game with a touchdown catch for 60 yards by Tyler Boyd. The Bengals’ second drive also ended in the end zone. This time Joe Mixon collected the score with a one-yard run after Cincinnati had almost reached the goal line four snaps earlier.

As soon as the second quarter began, Ja’Marr Chase added a touchdown catch for 32 yards. It wasn’t until the middle of the period that the Falcons got on the scoreboard with Tyler Allgeier’s first NFL touchdown on a one-yard run.

Chase opens wild final period of first half

It got really spectacular right before the break. Chase scored a 41-yard touchdown before Atlanta answered directly: Marcus Mariota found Damiere Byrd for 75 yards – the visitors’ second touchdown. With the clock running down, Younghoe Koo made a 43-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17:28.

It took almost ten minutes in the third quarter before the Bengals turned the game around again – in the person of Joe Burrow. The quarterback completed the drive with a quarterback sneak from one yard into the end zone. But nothing more happened because the Falcons couldn’t do anything and the Bengals didn’t take any more risks.

Burrow delivers outstanding scores – Boyd and Chase triple digits

Burrow finished the game with 481 yards through the air (three passing touchdowns). The 25-year-old advanced to become the fourth NFL star after Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Kyler Murray to post multiple games with more than 400 passing yards, at least three passing touchdowns and at least one rushing touchdown.

Boyd (155 yards) and Chase (130 yards) covered more than a field length with the ball. Mariota totalled 124 passing yards (one passing touchdown).

For the Falcons, Week 8 continues next Sunday with a home game against the Carolina Panthers. The Bengals host the Cleveland Browns in the Monday Night Game. So both teams have a divisional duel waiting for them.