January 11, 201610 yr What makes anyone think that it was a given that if AD played the Bengals would have won? Could they have won, sure...but they should have won last night with AJM. AD has lost his playoff games by 2+ TDs in 3 out of the 4 games, only once losing by less than a TD by 6 to the Texans. I just don't see how Bengal fans can be so certain that they would have won if Dalton had played...his playoff history doesn't bear that out.
January 11, 201610 yr What makes anyone think that it was a given that if AD played the Bengals would have won? Could they have won, sure...but they should have won last night with AJM. AD has lost his playoff games by 2+ TDs in 3 out of the 4 games, only once losing by less than a TD by 6 to the Texans. I just don't see how Bengal fans can be so certain that they would have won if Dalton had played...his playoff history doesn't bear that out. I would say it's a combination on how well he's played in big games this year combined with just how much better overall he played this year. Was on top of the AFC in QBR when he got hurt I believe they said last night. In year's past he tanked in big games as well as playoff games.
January 11, 201610 yr The defense loses to QB's.. Not the QB. Wouldn't get out played by TJ Yates, twice.
January 11, 201610 yr Wouldn't get out played by TJ Yates, twice. If the defense played the same and Green fumbled the game winning drive away inside the 10, yeah AJ would have the same result. To put it simply, AJ is not on Andy's level... And might never be. Time will tell.
January 11, 201610 yr I would say it's a combination on how well he's played in big games this year combined with just how much better overall he played this year. Was on top of the AFC in QBR when he got hurt I believe they said last night. In year's past he tanked in big games as well as playoff games. That's the thing his big games this year was still the 1 o'clock games. Which he has always been good at. And as I mentioned before even when the Bengals did beat the Steelers this year, the Bengals only scored 16 points and that was in perfect conditions.
January 11, 201610 yr That's the thing his big games this year was still the 1 o'clock games. Which he has always been good at. And as I mentioned before even when the Bengals did beat the Steelers this year, the Bengals only scored 16 points and that was in perfect conditions. I don't dispute anything you say here FC... But to be fair, he was driving the team to victory in prime time against Houston when Green fumbled the game away... He was better this year in the night games as well... In fact, a year ago was really bad against Cleveland on Thur night and this year he had a great game against them on Thur night... And he played "great" on the road in Arizona against a great defense... What'd he hang on them? 31 points and we still lost... He played very well in prime time this season... His worst outing was vs Houston and I think most of us really believed he was gonna win that game on the last drive just like he did earlier in the year at Pittsburgh.... All in all, poor game, but got it done if not for AJ's fumble. None of us know if He'd have beaten Pitt last night, but anyone who honestly doesn't think he would've given them a better chance than AJ just simply hasn't been paying attention to Dalton this season. Seriously, far too many people are hanging on past performance from AD... He was clearly a different cat this year. Edited January 11, 201610 yr by footmaster
January 11, 201610 yr I will say this about AJ... I'd make a team "pay up" for him if the Bengals do let him go. He is a solid back up and can start in this league for several teams... There are several (including the Bengals) where he would be the second QB... But the kid showed enough and doesn't cost so much that the Bengals should let him go cheap... There are desperate teams that might give a 2nd and 4th pick or something like that... I'd want at least something in that range... What was he a 5th rounder? Not a bad return on investment if they can get it... If not, keep a really solid backup for Dalton...
January 11, 201610 yr I don't dispute anything you say here FC... But to be fair, he was driving the team to victory in prime time against Houston when Green fumbled the game away... He was better this year in the night games as well... In fact, a year ago was really bad against Cleveland on Thur night and this year he had a great game against them on Thur night... And he played "great" on the road in Arizona against a great defense... What'd he hang on them? 31 points and we still lost... He played very well in prime time this season... His worst outing was vs Houston and I think most of us really believed he was gonna win that game on the last drive just like he did earlier in the year at Pittsburgh.... All in all, poor game, but got it done if not for AJ's fumble. None of us know if He'd have beaten Pitt last night, but anyone who honestly doesn't think he would've given them a better chance than AJ just simply hasn't been paying attention to Dalton this season. Seriously, far too many people are hanging on past performance from AD... He was clearly a different cat this year. All great points. However what is one thing that Pittsburgh even did to him in the first meeting, that was pressure him too. Which in that first game in perfect playing conditions, and no pressure of winning a playoff game on his shoulders and he and the offense still only scored 16 against the Steelers, just like AJ did in this game. As a bengal fan I would love to think that we would win with Dalton to make me feel better lol. However the fact is his playoff history, and even his Steelers history including this year was not great. Even in victories against Steelers he has never scored more than 17 points. What we don't know with Dalton, we do know what AJ that he at the end of the day put us in position to win and should have won. If Hill doesn't fumble then it goes down to him making throws when they had to have them to win.
January 11, 201610 yr All great points. However what is one thing that Pittsburgh even did to him in the first meeting, that was pressure him too. Which in that first game in perfect playing conditions, and no pressure of winning a playoff game on his shoulders and he and the offense still only scored 16 against the Steelers, just like AJ did in this game. As a bengal fan I would love to think that we would win with Dalton to make me feel better lol. However the fact is his playoff history, and even his Steelers history including this year was not great. Even in victories against Steelers he has never scored more than 17 points. What we don't know with Dalton, we do know what AJ that he at the end of the day put us in position to win and should have won. If Hill doesn't fumble then it goes down to him making throws when they had to have them to win. I think we're on the same page here... Dalton should be the starter and AJ did a fine job filling in.. My only thing that I want to re-focus people on is the fact that Dalton played well in Prime time this season.. First game against Pitt (felt like prime time)... He didn't play lights out, but made the final come back drive and they won... I thinks he played great THURSDAY Night against the Browns... He really played better than Palmer w/ fewer mistakes in Arizona, but lost... He put the team in position to beat Houston after a very sketchy performance too... But like the AJ playoff loss.. A fumble cost the game: Dalton, I believe would've beat Pitt here had he not broke the thumb... Obviously not a fact, but a gut feeling... In fact, the whole team kinda looked dazed in that one after his injury... And he didn't get to play Denver of course... And while I think that was AJ's best game...there's no reason not to think (with the way AD was playing) that Dalton wouldn't have done better. As a Bengals fan, we just gotta hope for some luck... One year we lose Atkins, then we lose Jones, Eiffert, Green, Burfict... Dalton goes down during his best season... Bengal Curse is real... Lol!
January 11, 201610 yr I would grade AJ as solid. He came in and kept the team on track, and got them to the playoffs. Pretty good chance they don't make it without him. IMO he has the tools to be a pretty good QB. There is little or nothing coming out this year at QB. No way I trade him this year. A few years ago Jay Cutler got hurt with either 4 or 5 games remaining. They needed 1 win to get to the playoffs. They didn't get it, because the back ups were so bad.
January 12, 201610 yr I think we're on the same page here... Dalton should be the starter and AJ did a fine job filling in.. My only thing that I want to re-focus people on is the fact that Dalton played well in Prime time this season.. First game against Pitt (felt like prime time)... He didn't play lights out, but made the final come back drive and they won... I thinks he played great THURSDAY Night against the Browns... He really played better than Palmer w/ fewer mistakes in Arizona, but lost... He put the team in position to beat Houston after a very sketchy performance too... But like the AJ playoff loss.. A fumble cost the game: Dalton, I believe would've beat Pitt here had he not broke the thumb... Obviously not a fact, but a gut feeling... In fact, the whole team kinda looked dazed in that one after his injury... And he didn't get to play Denver of course... And while I think that was AJ's best game...there's no reason not to think (with the way AD was playing) that Dalton wouldn't have done better. As a Bengals fan, we just gotta hope for some luck... One year we lose Atkins, then we lose Jones, Eiffert, Green, Burfict... Dalton goes down during his best season... Bengal Curse is real... Lol! Glossing over the Texans game, I see.
January 12, 201610 yr Glossing over the Texans game, I see. Not at all, I said he played poorly and still had them in position to win if Green doesn't fumble... Very similar to the game in Pitt... Offense didn't do much, but still had a comeback game winning drive at the end... Then defense held. Dalton would've lead the Bengals to the win vs Texans... Like the playoff game, don't fumble and they win.
January 12, 201610 yr Each loss highlights one thing, the lack of a running game hurts both QBs. Neither is going to win a game throwing 40 plus times a game w/out the running game at least being some sort of threat.
January 12, 201610 yr ^^ Well said... I still can't figure this out... Last season the Bengals had a very solid running game and this season it was really bad... Anyone have any idea why that is? Myself, I thought Hill was off (and he probably was to a certain degree) but there has to be more to it.
January 12, 201610 yr ^^ Well said... I still can't figure this out... Last season the Bengals had a very solid running game and this season it was really bad... Anyone have any idea why that is? Myself, I thought Hill was off (and he probably was to a certain degree) but there has to be more to it. The inability to stop penetration is the main thing. Teams know that if they make Hill cut behind the line, he is very marginal. Let him get to his hole, and he is trouble. I think that the injury matched with congestion in the backfield all year affected his style and production. They also switched up, at the beginning of the year, to more of a zone/stretch scheme. Again, that isn't Hill's style. We'll see the same thing w/ Henry from Bama. If he doesn't go to more of a power based team, he will struggle.
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