New & Improved Andy Dalton Shows Clutch Side with Seahawks Victory

Sunday’s 27-24 overtime decision over the Seattle Seahawks was one for the It Factor.

It matched the second-biggest comeback in team history and came against the two-time defending NFC champions – a signature moment for the unbeaten Bengals.

Leading the leap forward has been Andy Dalton, who has gone from a good quarterback to a very good one, a player who can make the big plays that win games.

Starting with the Super Bowl, the Seahawks have now given up 56 fourth quarter points in their last six games compared to 58 in the first, second, and third quarters combined over the same stretch. Filling the considerably large shoes of injured back Marshawn Lynch is a big concern for the Seattle Seahawks, as local sportswriters such as Matt Calkins of the Seattle Times have recently speculated that perhaps Lynch is on the decline as he approaches 30-years-old. The Bengals’ quarterback likely won’t be considered “elite” until he has postseason success, but he’s off to an undeniably great start to the 2015 season.

But when it mattered in the second half, Taylor led two 80-yard scoring drives and contributed 77 yards of rushing on those marches, including a 22-yard touchdown that got the Bills on the scoreboard. Andy Dalton – aka New Andy – went 10 for 11 in the insane fourth quarter for 105 yards and 17 points.

But wait… the Bengals overcame a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter Sunday and wound up winning in overtime, 27-24. That’s the only logical conclusion after reading famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson’s tweets Sunday. Jeremy Hill is the downhill bruiser. We’ve worked really hard to get here. Bernard, who finished with 80 yards on 15 carries, went for 63 yards on 11 carries in the fourth quarter and OT, including a huge 13-yard zone run behind left guard Clint Boling and left tackle Andrew Whitworth that put them at the Seattle 32 on the winning drive.

Bengals all-time leading receiver Chad Johnson sat next to Jones’ locker, agreeing with the assessment Jones had a lot of toughness, and safety George Iloka decided, “I’m glad he’s on my team”.

They can throw: four receivers with more than 60 yards and Tyler Eiffert’s two TDs, plus a dramatic diving catch setting up the tying field goal.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) celebrates after a… “Andy’s had that (quality)”, said coach Marvin Lewis.

Wilson targeted Graham on Seattle’s first pass play, but only four times thereafter.

The Bears (2-3) were down 17-3 at halftime, and trailed 17-6 going into the fourth quarter before Cutler was able to avoid pressure from the Chiefs defense and took the offense down the field for a 22-yard touchdown to wide receiver Marquess Wilson.

Julian Edelman caught four passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. The kick in question was a 42-yarder that doinked in off the goal post and was the difference in overtime for the Bengals over the Seahawks. It looked like more of the same after he threw two INTs in the end zone, but he bounced back from the rough start.

Aaron Rodgers was picked off at home for the first time in three years in the Green Bay Packers’ 24-10 victory against the St Louis Rams.

I guess all the jokes at his expense caused Dalton to really buckle down.

“I think he should be fired after the season”, Bissinger said in a radio interview.

The most noteworthy aspect of the late slate was gleaned by a glance at the records three of the teams ended up with: The Denver Broncos are 5-0, the New England Patriots are 4-0… and the Detroit Lions are 0-5. He is 0-4 in the playoffs, with one touchdown and six interceptions in those games.

Seattle were forced to punt twice in overtime, giving Cincinnati the chance to seal it with Nugent’s final field goal. Backup Dan Orlovsky came in, but coach Jim Caldwell made it clear he’ll stick with Stafford as the starter against Chicago next week, saying: “There is no quarterback controversy or anything of that nature”. I feel good about the way we ran the football, and we didn’t leave that. “It did pay off”, Carroll said.

What were they thinking? Head coach Jim Caldwell, I predict, will eventually take over the play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s, whose work has not been inspiring thus far this season.

The Giants say Odell Beckham Jr has a hamstring injury and his return is questionable.