Cincinnati
Bengals
5-2
51
FINAL
38
Atlanta
Falcons
4-4
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling matchup, the Cincinnati Bengals triumphed over the Atlanta Falcons with a final score of 51-38 in Week 9 of the 2026 season. Both teams entered the game looking to solidify their playoff aspirations, but it was the Bengals who emerged victorious, showcasing a balanced offensive attack that overwhelmed the Falcons.
Cincinnati's offensive fireworks were led by quarterback Joe Burrow, who threw for four touchdowns while managing the game effectively. Running back Chase Brown was a force on the ground, racking up an impressive 254 rushing yards, while receiver Ja'Marr Chase added 135 receiving yards to keep the chains moving. The Bengals' offensive line provided solid protection, allowing Burrow to deliver strikes downfield and maintain momentum throughout the contest.
Defensively, the Bengals made critical plays that shifted the game's momentum, highlighted by Bobby Wagner's interception that halted a potential Falcons scoring drive. Although the Falcons’ defense showed flashes, with Gervon Dexter Sr. recording a sack and Xavier Watts leading in tackles, they struggled to contain the Bengals’ explosive offense. The turning point came late in the third quarter when Burrow connected with Chase for a touchdown, extending Cincinnati's lead and putting the pressure squarely on Atlanta's shoulders.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.J. McCarthy | QB | 28 | 17 | 307 | 4 | 2 | 108.1 |
| Joe Burrow | QB | 26 | 21 | 295 | 4 | 1 | 137.5 |
| Ja'Marr Chase | WR | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Brown | HB | 13 | 254 | 19.5 | 3 | 74 | 0 |
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 21 | 143 | 6.8 | 1 | 42 | 0 |
| Damien Martinez | HB | 7 | 14 | 2.0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Joe Burrow | QB | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Brian Robinson Jr | HB | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Mike Gesicki | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ja'Marr Chase | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Drake London | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ja'Marr Chase | WR | 10 | 135 | 13.5 | 2 | 64 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 3 | 106 | 35.3 | 2 | 61 | 0 |
| Kyle Pitts Sr | TE | 6 | 88 | 14.7 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | 2 | 70 | 35.0 | 1 | 59 | 0 |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | 1 | 55 | 55.0 | 1 | 55 | 0 |
| Drake London | WR | 4 | 43 | 10.8 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Mike Gesicki | TE | 5 | 39 | 7.8 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Chase Brown | HB | 1 | 37 | 37.0 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 3 | 15 | 5.0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Andrei Iosivas | WR | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| Drew Sample | TE | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Erick All Jr | TE | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Wagner | MIKE | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Xavier Watts | SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gervon Dexter Sr | DT | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle Dugger | SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaiir Elam | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Josh Newton | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dexter Lawrence II | DT | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tacario Davis | CB | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| A.J. Terrell Jr | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Christian Harris | WILL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cashius Howell | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jordan Battle | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Divine Deablo | MIKE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonathan Allen | DT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Bowman Jr | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Myles Murphy | LEDG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Cook | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Avieon Terrell | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Dorlus | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kendal Daniels | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oren Burks | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| James Pearce Jr | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Demetrius Knight Jr | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalon Walker | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DJ Turner II | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lonnie Johnson Jr | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sydney Brown | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evan McPherson | K | 1 | 1 | 6 | 22 |
| Nick Folk | K | 1 | 1 | 5 | 45 |

