Bengals’ head coach Marvin Lewis: Andy Dalton is ‘on top of his game’

Aug 16, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) throws the ball in the first quarter against the New York Jets at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) throws the ball in the first quarter against the New York Jets at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Andy Dalton was perfect on Saturday night — at least according to passer ratings. He threw 8-of-8 for 144 yards and one touchdown. That earns you a 158.3. Perfect.

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“He’s on top of his game. He’s throwing the football and understands what we want,” Lewis said, via ESPN NFL Nation. “Guys are doing a good job with him. He continues to play the way we think he should play all the time. It doesn’t surprise me because that’s the way he practices all the time. He doesn’t have to be flashy, he just needs to be accurate and handle the offense. He does his thing very well.”

Now if only he looks as good in the postseason as he does in the preseason — then he’ll earn his brand spanking new contract. He’s just pleased with his performance and happy to be playing good football.

“When you have a game like I did [Saturday], and you have teammates like I have, it’s a lot of fun,” Dalton said. “It’s not like it just started being fun. It’s been fun since I’ve been here.”

Dalton has been impressive for the entirety of preseason, throwing 11-of-13 for 213 yards with a 144.4 passer rating. For that matter, he’s been sharp all offseason, too.

“I see it every year, but especially this camp,” receiver Mohamed Sanu said. “I haven’t seen him throw the ball so accurate, so efficient. Every time you turn around the ball is just there and you’re like, ‘Wow.”

Dalton enters his fourth year in the NFL with a major contract, but he still has so much to prove.