Bengals' Burrow is looking to extend 3-game winning streak against Penix and Falcons in Madrid

Cincinnati's Joe Burrow and Atlanta's Michael Penix Jr. experienced dramatically different lead-in games to Sunday's matchup between the Bengals and Falcons in Madrid, Spain.

While Penix was throwing a career-high four interceptions while playing through heavy rain in a 16-0 loss at Tampa Bay, Burrow threw five touchdown passes and then had the game-winning touchdown run in overtime in a 43-36 win over Tennessee.

Burrow has thrown 13 touchdown passes in a three-game winning streak for the Bengals (5-2) and will try to continue that momentum against the Falcons (3-5) at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor said good protection has enabled Burrow to thrive.

“I think we have the most accurate and process-driven quarterback that exists and we have the best receiving corps — and that’s receivers, tight ends and running backs — that there is in the league,” Taylor said Thursday in Madrid. “All that stuff, we feel like we can really distribute the field and Joe’s going to do a good job of being the bus driver in that situation and putting us in really good spots. It allows us to attack teams in the pass game that way.”

Penix will be looking for a bounce-back closer to the efficient form he showed when passing for three touchdowns with no interceptions in a 29-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 25.

Penix said reviewing last week's game was difficult.

“It was hard. It was hard to watch it,” Penix said. “But at the same time, you know, that’s what comes with it. You've got to own up to it. You've got to be accountable for the things that you did and the part that you played in it.”

Early bird

Coach Kevin Stefanski likes giving his teams ample time to adjust when playing an international game. The Falcons made their flight from Atlanta on Tuesday night and then immediately held a light practice Wednesday at the Real Madrid practice facility.

Stefanski said he knows his schedule means an earlier arrival in Europe than some teams prefer.

“This seems like the right amount of time,” Stefanski said. "We’ve done this a few times. ... I’ve always left a little bit earlier than most. ... But I do see the benefits of coming out early to a city where you can acclimate to the time zone, you can again be together as a football team for a few days, and it doesn’t hurt to be in a beautiful city like this.”