Cincinnati Bengals: 30 greatest players in franchise history

• 3x Pro Bowl (2011, 2014, 2016)
• 2x 4,000 passing yard seasons (2013, 2016)
• 4x 10-win seasons as Bengals starting quarterback (2012-15)
• Most passing yards (4,293) in a season in Bengals history in 2013
• Most passing touchdowns (33) in a season in Bengals history in 2013

Don’t look now, but Andy Dalton is quietly climbing up not only the greatest quarterbacks in franchise history conversation, but as one of the all-time greatest Bengals. Since being drafted in the second round in 2011 out of TCU, all Dalton has done is throw for a bunch of yards and keep his team in the AFC playoff conversation.

As a rookie in 2011, Dalton went 9-7 as a starter, led the Bengals to the AFC playoffs and made his first of three career trips to the Pro Bowl so far. While his completion percentage was below-par that fall at 58.1 percent, he did begin to develop a great rapport with his draft classmate in wide receiver A.J. Green.

With Green as his No. 1 receiving option, Dalton has usually found himself as a signal caller capable of winning 10 games annually, completing roughly 64 percent of his passes for 3,600 yards and 25 touchdowns.

No, his arm talent may not be on par with his predecessor in Carson Palmer nor does he have the postseason success of either Ken Anderson or Boomer Esiason. That being said, the Bengals have never won fewer than six games in any season where Dalton has been the franchise quarterback. Though not the flashiest player in the NFL, Dalton has his team ready to compete every fall Sunday. Playmakers on three!

Through his first seven seasons in the league, Dalton is 63-44-2 in 109 career starts. He boasts a career completion percentage of 62.3, throwing for 25,534 yards, 167 touchdowns and 93 interceptions.

While the regular season success has been there, the postseason success has been absent for the Bengals during the entire Dalton era in the Queen City. Head coach Marvin Lewis is 0-7 in seven career playoff games as the Bengals leader. Dalton is 0-4 in four postseason games with Cincinnati, completing just 55.7 percent of his passes for 873 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions.

Dalton should surpass Esiason in passing yardage this season barring injury. He might stand the chance at being the franchise leader over Anderson if he plays with the Bengals into his mid-30s. Frankly, Dalton’s numbers might be inflated due to the era he plays in. However, leading his team to the playoffs every year in his first five seasons is truly a remarkable feat anyway you slice it.