Andy Dalton won’t require surgery on fractured thumb, reports say

The Cincinnati Bengals (10-3) are coming from a 33-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Despite not putting up eye-popping numbers against a hobbled Bengals secondary, the Steelers’ receiving corps was very effective and consistent Sunday, as the Steelers were able to march the ball up and down the field.

So with just three games left the Bengals should be concerned.

A rematch with the Steelers in the first round is now a distinct possibility, which can’t sit well with anyone in that locker room. Tomlin is 7-2 at Paul Brown Stadium and the Steelers are 14-3 there since it opened. “That’s how we like to play”. Even if he does, he’ll be forced to fight his playoff curse with a bad throwing thumb, which could make getting his first career playoff win even more challenging.

The Bengals were the No. 1 seed in the AFC entering the game.

Read on to find out five reasons why Andy Dalton shouldn’t rush back for the Cincinnati Bengals despite being one of the team’s most important players. Defensive end Stephon Tuitt’s interception of Dalton at the Steelers’ 5-yard line in the first quarter was their sixth red-zone takeaway this season.

“We’ve obviously had some injuries”, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said after the game. The team we have and my job at task. “You have so many guys who are from or played in OH, I think we look forward to these things”. “If you lose confidence it can go bad for you real quick”. He can direct the offense. “This is why we have him”.

“I hurt my thumb”, Dalton said.

“Um, honestly, it’d be a division team in the playoffs”, Zeitler said. “AJ’s going to have the ball and going to have to run with it, and take care of the ball when it’s in his hands”.

Sunday started with talk between Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict and Steelers linebacker Vince Williams, leading to a skirmish that set the tone for a chippy installment of a rapidly-heating rivalry. One of the biggest plays that helped them in their big win on the road which keeps them in the playoff hunt was a pick-six from cornerback William Gay, followed by an excessive celebration. “We got to put points on the board and win ballgames”. “We have a lot of depth on this football team and we’re going to handle it”.

Lewis said that Dalton will not play this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Now we have to go out there and handle business with San Francisco. We’re madder about that than knocking them out of the playoffs. It’s a home game for me.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron, left, and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, right, meet on the field after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in Cincinnati.

All the jawing, all the flags, all attempts at intimidation the Bengals tried to throw at the Steelers on Sunday, Pittsburgh and its not exactly wallflower of a head coach have seen many times before.