Bengals Fly Tuesday To Madrid For Fast Start Against Falcons
The Bengals are changing their travel routine for the Madrid game. Zac Taylor and the team are treating it like a six-day week to fix their slow starts against Atlanta.
The Atlanta Falcons need to worry about the travel plan, not just the opponent. The Cincinnati Bengals are flying out on Tuesday to get a head start on the trip to Madrid. This isn’t a normal week for them. They are cutting the travel time to make sure they are ready to go when the clock starts on Sunday, November 8. Zac Taylor knows the Falcons are coming off a shutout loss, but he also knows his own team has a big problem to fix.
The Bengals will leave Cincinnati on Tuesday after practice. They get Wednesday off before hitting the field in Spain on Thursday and Friday. This happens at the Spanish National Team Training Facility. Taylor told reporters that the early flight helps the team get acclimated faster. He wants the players to feel fresh for the game against Atlanta. “The week shapes up different. It speeds up the coaches a bit so that the comfort of being here in our office is different than on the road,” Taylor said, according to WRAL . The goal is to clean things up before the plane ride. “You treat it like a six-day week,” Taylor said.
This approach comes after three straight wins for Cincinnati. The team is 5-2 for the first time since 2021. They just beat the Tennessee Titans 43-36 in overtime. But the wins came after they dug out of holes. The Bengals have rallied from 13-point deficits in the first half for the last two weeks. According to reports, this is the third time the team has ever done this, with the other times being 1981 and 2001. They need to stop playing catch-up before they face the Falcons.
Joe Burrow and the offense have struggled to get off the line early. They need to change that now. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence knows the team cannot afford another slow beginning. He said the trip is a chance to set the tone right away. “Just knowing that we’re there for business and to prepare like that and start fast, which we haven’t done. This is another opportunity for us to start fast,” he said. The Falcons will be at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. That is a tough time for any team to be sharp, but the early flight helps.
Taylor also wants to grow the fan base in Europe. He believes the team will pick up new fans in Spain. “I’m certain we have a lot in Spain that will come watch us play,” Taylor said. He thinks fans will buy gear and stick with the team for life. But the main focus remains on winning. The Bengals want to improve to 6-2 and tie with Pittsburgh for the top spot in the AFC North. They have a big rematch in Cincinnati on November 15, but the Madrid game is the first step.
The Falcons just lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-0 on Sunday, November 1. They are desperate for a win. The Bengals are coming in hot with a winning streak.
