In 2011, the Cincinnati Bengals were in need of a quarterback and in the second round of the National Football League Draft that year they selected quarterback Andy Dalton. In his rookie season Dalton threw for 3,398 yards to go along with 20 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as he helped the Bengals reach the playoffs. The Bengals would fail to advance in the postseason, but they appeared to have a foundation to build off of with Dalton. With Dalton as their starting quarterback, the Bengals would once again qualify for the playoffs in 2012 as a wild card. But just like 2011, Cincinnati was unable to navigate past the Houston Texans in the first round. Last season the Bengals began the year with a record of 6-2 and the folks in Southern Ohio were thinking about the Super Bowl. Dalton passed for a career high in passing yards (4,293) to go along with 33 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions. The Bengals won the AFC North for the first time since 2009, but the home-field advantage in the AFC Wild Card Round wasn’t a welcome sight for them as they lost to the San Diego Chargers 27-10. In the game Dalton had two costly interceptions along with a fumble. This past off-season Bengals owner/president Mike Brown signed Dalton to a six-year, $115 million extension as he believes in the man from TCU to be his franchise quarterback. But did Brown and the Bengals make the right move?
Andy Dalton
Unlike most rookie quarterbacks that enter the NFL, Dalton came into a good situation. Dalton wasn’t a first round pick and thus he didn’t have a ton of pressure heaped on him. The Bengals play in one of the smaller markets in the National Football League and Dalton doesn’t have to endear a ton of media scrutiny. Also the Bengals team has been a talented bunch for him to work with. Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green is one of the best in the business as far as catching passes and he has been a huge security blanket for Dalton. In three-plus seasons with the Bengals, Green has 283 receptions for 4,214 and 32 touchdowns. Last season the Bengals had the 10th best offense in the NFL while this season they are currently 12th. The Bengals are currently 5-3-1 and they appear to be winning in spite of Dalton.
The Bengals began this season with a huge 23-16 road victory of their division rival in the Baltimore Ravens. In the game Dalton was 25-of-38 passing for 301 yards and a touchdown. The Bengals started the season with a record of 3-0 and they had a chance to make a statement coming off of their bye week in Week 5 on Sunday Night Football as they traveled to take on the New England Patriots who were trying to rebound from a blowout loss in their previous game. But it was Dalton and the Bengals that were blown out by the Patriots 43-17. In Week 6, the Bengals tied with the Carolina Panthers 37-37. Dalton did put the Bengals in position for the game-winning field goal that was missed by kicker Mike Nugent to end the game. But it was Dalton that threw a pair of costly interceptions in regulation when the Bengals were up and they were preparing to put the game out of reach which allowed the Panthers to get back into the game. In Week 7, the entire Bengals team did not show up as they were blown out by the Indianapolis Colts 27-0. In the game Dalton was 18-of-38 passing for 126 yards and no touchdowns. In the Bengals last four games Dalton has only thrown two touchdowns to just six interceptions. The bottom completely fell out for Dalton this past Thursday night versus the Cleveland Browns. Dalton had his worst game as a pro as he was just 10-of-33 passing for 86 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The Bengals were steamrolled by the Browns at home 24-3 as a national television audience was able to see Dalton implode firsthand.
Dalton was paid as if he is an elite quarterback, but in three-plus seasons he has been unable to take his team or his game to the next level. Dalton has been without Green for the majority of the season who has been out with a lingering toe injury, but he just seems to be making the mistakes that you would expect a rookie to make. While in the pocket Dalton has not done a good job of ball protection while on his throws he is forcing the football too often. This season Dalton has 8 touchdown to 9 interceptions.
Unlike the past few seasons it is going to be tougher for the Bengals to get into the playoffs as every team in the AFC North currently has a winning record. More than ever Brown and Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis need Dalton to step up and be a leader and he isn’t doing it. The Bengals offense has been at its best this season when they have balance in their run and passing games; not when Dalton is taking it upon himself to play “hero” ball.
Dalton is 27-years of age and their is room for him to improve in order to become a consistent quarterback. At 6’2″, 215 lbs., there is not a throw that Dalton cannot make, but he needs to take a lesson from a pair of Super Bowl winning quarterbacks in the AFC North. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have combined to win three Super Bowl Championships. Flacco and Roethlisberger have the ability to take their games to another level as they simply impose their will on their teammates which is what Dalton needs to do. Aside from not having Green, Dalton lost his offensive coordinator for the past three seasons in Jay Gruden who is the current head coach of the Washington Redskins. But when you’re paid as handsomely as Dalton was it is time to show us what you can do and lead the orange and black to bigger and better things.
After being demolished by the Browns, Dalton and the Bengals are set to embark on the remainder of their schedule which could see them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2010. The final seven games of the season begin with three straight road games. Next Sunday the Bengals will travel to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome where the New Orleans Saints are very tough to beat. After the Saints, the Bengals will travel to take on the Houston Texans who have an opportunistic defense. Those two games will be followed by a road game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who in spite of their losing record are playing hard under head coach Lovie Smith and anything can happen. The final four games of the season will see the Bengals have their rematch with the Browns and a home game against the defending AFC Champions in the Denver Broncos which will be sandwiched between two games with the Steelers. If ever there was a time for Dalton to assert himself and show that he is the $115 million man it is right now.
Source: Pro-football-reference.com
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