Cincinnati Bengals: 3 ways Andy Dalton in December could impact 2020
By Steve Rivera
Could the return of Andy Dalton actually have a negative impact on the Cincinnati Bengals? for those thinking they are better off rebuilding, winning in December could change the ability to do that in 2020.
It was all about feeling good on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, courtesy of a long-overdue 22-6 victory against the New York Jets. The Cincinnati Bengals, who earned their first win of the season, are now 1-11 and looking like December could yield more than just a single victory.
Is that good or bad? Depending on your particular point of view, winning felt good in Week 13, but if that becomes a habit the last four games of the season, the hope of a No. #1 overall draft pick could be dashed. Then what? More of 2019 in 2020? More procrastination with fixing a downtrodden franchise?
In the win over the Jets, the good feelz doesn’t change the fact that the Bengals still only have one win this season. Andy Dalton, the primary author of the 22-6 victory, was THE story on Sunday, and for the next four games, it will remain just that. This is, by the way, the same Andy Dalton who led Cincinnati to an 0-8 record before being benched in favor of the now 0-3 Ryan Finley.
See a trend here, fans?
Related Story. Dalton leads Bengals to first win, 22-6 over the Jets. light
As good to great as Sunday in Cincinnati was, it raises the legitimate question, “now what?” Are the Bengals now all in on Dalton? What about Joe Burrow at LSU? Or perhaps it’s Chase Young from Ohio State?
At 1-11, you’d think the plan for 2020, especially where the draft was concerned, was fairly clear. After a single win, it may be more cloudy than ever, especially for those who think Dalton delivering a single win solves the mess that Cincinnati still is as a franchise.