It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.
Andy Dalton, formerly the franchise quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, was supposed to be a bridge player for the Zac Taylor era before the team leapfrogged to greater heights.
Yet as Dalton gets ready to lead his Dallas Cowboys into Paul Brown Stadium, Taylor and Co. sit on a 2-9-1 record, essentially matching the 2-14 outcome of last season.
It was that last season that ended the Dalton tenure in Cincinnati, especially once Taylor benched him in favor of Ryan Finley (who isn’t even permitted to start right now). Recall that getting benched actually angered Dalton publicly, which hadn’t really happened before. They also happened to bench him on his birthday.
Not that Dalton is going to say anything bad now, as captured by the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Tyler Dragon:
Andy Dalton on having a road game in Cincinnati: It will be different being on the other side of the field, the other locker room and all that kind of stuff. It’ll kind of feel a little weird being on the other side of it, but it’s because I spent so much time there. #Bengals
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) December 9, 2020
Still, the Cowboys are a dumpster fire of a team this year at 3-9 and 1-5 on the road. Dak Prescott’s historical pacing was the only thing stopping the historically bad defense from ruining everything.
If those Dalton-led Cowboys march into PBS and pop off, it’s only going to further the idea this era isn’t working and needs a reset. Bad teams have looked good against Taylor’s Bengals, so much so five opposing players have even been named players of the week.
It’s only fitting it’s Dalton right now, though. Taylor and his struggling offense continue to make the worst type of history — but he says he won’t give up play-calling duties. His team also just lost complete control during the loss to Miami, engaging in fights, receiving ejections and even getting one player suspended.
If more of that shows up while Dalton — who hasn’t looked good this year, to put it nicely — it only increases the seemingly growing chances the Bengals blow it up again this offseason.
