Andy Dalton and The Bengals Fail In Prime Time Again

Dec 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) scores a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Andy Dalton has one interception to his credit, even though he has two on the score sheet. AJ Green is responsible for two turnovers, as he fumbled late and gave up on a play early on that went for an interception. The Bengals offense looked like the night they played the Patriots and Brown. Lost with every play that wasn’t on the ground.

Andy Dalton ended with two interceptions, AJ Green ran routes that weren’t called and gave up on a number of them before his head was removed by the Steelers secondary on the stripped fumble, which was recovered by the Steelers. If there was one bright spot to all of this, Jeremy Hill ran for 100 yards and Giovani Bernard had a touchdown reception on a well designed short pass. The other bright spot went dim when the Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham caught a touchdown pass but then limped off the field with assistance.

The defense was not great either allowing a 317 yards through the air and two touchdown passes. They stopped the ground game and LeVeon Bell left the game with a Hyperextension injury to his knee. He will be questionable for a short week when they face the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field. The defense couldn’t get pressure on Big Ben and forgot everything they did against Peyton Manning just one week prior. Special Teams allowed an early runback for a touchdown and a missed field goal that ended up hurting them late as well.

The Cincinnati Bengals will head into Indianapolis with a dream to win their first playoff game since 1991. It will be difficult, since the Colts routed the Bengals in their last meeting in Indy, 27-0. They will need to get pressure to Andrew Luck and stop the Colts running game, if they have any chance of winning.