The Cincinnati Bengals are proving that they are not the same team they have been over the past four years. Cincinnati has owned the reputation of a team that can’t win a big game since Andy Dalton arrived four years ago (and many, many years before that), but times are changing.
On Sunday afternoon, the Bengals took a 13-10 lead late in the fourth quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Dalton to A.J. Green with under three minutes remaining. The Bengals had been stifled most of the game, although Green consistently was beating coverage from overwhelmed defensive backs. Green has caught 11 passes for 107 yards and a score, showing why he is an All-Pro.
If Cincinnati is able to hold on for a 16-10 win over Pittsburgh, it would be both a 7-0 record and have a two and a half game lead over the second-place Steelers in the AFC North.
Dalton has struggled throughout the day but made the throws when he needed them most against a suspect Pittsburgh defense. The Steelers were able to intercept Dalton twice in the fourth quarter, including Antwon Blake’s theft in the end zone on an attempted throw to Marvin Jones.
The Bengals have now notched a pair of divisional wins on the road this season, having beaten the Baltimore Ravens back in Week 3 at M&T Bank Stadium. Green was also instrumental in that victory, going for more than 200 yards.