Andy Dalton first three seasons equal to Peyton Manning’s
It’s been made apparent that maybe the Cincinnati Bengals weren’t absolutely stupid for their $115 million six-year contract extension they gave to quarterback Andy Dalton, who is 0-3 in his first three postseason appearances. The fact is that his stats are virtually identical to blossoming Peyton Manning three years into his season according to Sunday Night Football’s Twitter account.
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Dalton and Peyton Manning's numbers in the first 3 years of their careers are remarkably similar #SNF pic.twitter.com/1bqeM8B314
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) August 25, 2014
Manning was the first overall pick to the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 and quickly was strong, but wasn’t quite there yet, similar to Dalton, in his first three seasons. Peyton was 0-2 in the playoffs, but had thrown 85 touchdown passes. Manning also led his team to 26 wins in 48 starts, which is only just above .500, but can mostly be attributed to their 1998 3-13 season.
Similar to Manning, in Dalton’s first 48 starts he led the Bengals to 30 wins, and also three postseasons. Dalton has thrown 80 touchdowns so far with an 85.7 passer rating.
If Dalton can begin to win some playoff games he may be looking like a future Peyton Manning after all.
Manning is a 13-time pro bowler with the Colts and the Broncos and has one Super Bowl win as well as losing the Super Bowl in 2014 to the Seahawks. Manning has also been the Offensive Player of the Year twice.
Dalton undoubetly has a lot of catching up to do, but according to Peyton’s first year statistics, he’s right on pace.