Cincinnati Bengals vs. Jets: Winners and Losers

Winner: Andy Dalton

Clearly the most obvious winner on the evening, Andy Dalton was perfect for the evening.  Dalton followed up his strong

Aug 16, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs with the ball against the New York Jets in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

performance in game one by completing eight passes on eight attempts for 144 yards and a TD, which earned him a perfect rating of 158.3.  He had two long completions of 35 and 43 yards to AJ Green and Mohamed Sanu respectively, all while taking no sacks and avoiding any turnovers.  Dalton is beginning to show the Bengals long-term, albeit calculated, investment in him may pay off.  He’s been outstanding thus far this off-season and has earned much praise from his coaches, his teammates, and the media alike.  Dalton has shown an ability to play at this level in the past, so consistency is the key here; something he’s had difficulty with in past seasons.  If Dalton can continue to display this level of production, the Bengals will be in prime position to repeat as AFC North champions and go deeper in the playoffs than in year’s past.  Dalton has looked good, but most fans won’t be completely sold on him until he displays consistency in the regular season and proves he can be “good Andy” come playoff time.  The jury will remain out on Dalton for some time, be it fair or not.