There’s something different about this year’s Cincinnati Bengals,
- The Bengals are 4-0
- They have the second-ranked offense
- They have scored the most offensive touchdowns
- They sit atop the league’s most competitive division
Let’s go beyond these bullet points and break this down into sports analytics. The Bengals rushing attack has ranked 8th behind Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill, but the real story is that of Andy Dalton.
The Cincinnati Bengals offense is firing on all cylinders behind quarterback Andy Dalton and all pro receiver AJ Green. This tandem’s dominance has led the Bengals offense to put up an average of 30.2 points per game, good for 4th in the league.
Dalton has led his team to 422 yards a game, ranked second and the league, and put himself as the league’s fifth best passer by yards, making the Bengals a force to be reckoned with.
Let’s look at Dalton’s numbers. Through the first four games, Dalton has thrown nine touchdowns to only one pick; a hot start for a quarterback with a history of choking. But the real test comes this weekend for Dalton to see if he lives up to the hype vs the 2-2 but still very capable Seattle Seahawks.
The haters are quick to come out about Dalton and the Bengals this year, but there’s something different about this team. It all begins with Andy Dalton. Through four games last year Dalton managed only four touchdowns to one interception, and this year he has more than doubled the touchdowns. He also has more yards and a better passer rating.
From there the changes trickle down to other players, like Tyler Eifert, the Bengals starting Tight End. An injury last year saw him play in only one game. This year, through four games, he’s got three touchdowns and sixteen receptions.
And AJ Green has been just doing his thing through the first four games on his way to 400 yards and four scores.
Finally, it’s been the complement of Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard that has been a driving force and has opened up the passing game. Last year, Hill emerged on the scene when Bernard fell victim to a string of injuries and didn’t look back. But this year the Cincinnati Bengals have been able to use the two in platoon, by using big-bodied Hill for short yardage and Bernard to open up the passing game.
To you Bengals haters or you Bengals fans: things could get interesting come December and January. That is if Dalton finds his way in prime time.