All Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton had to do to quiet the critics who believe he shrinks in big-game situations was defeat the Indianapolis Colts on the road in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. And he had to do it with his favorite receiver, A.J. Green, and tight end Jermaine Gresham both sidelined with injures.
It was even harder for him than all that sounds.Dalton went into the game 0-3 in the playoffs, but this wasn't the Sunday he was to shake off his—and the Bengals'—postseason win drought. The Bengals were bested by Indianapolis, 26-10, in a game where Dalton's supporting cast simply didn't do him any favors.
After the game, Bengals offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth told Paul Daugherty of the Cincinnati Enquirer, "In the big moments, our big guys have to make the plays. You're going to have to make some kind of exceptional play to win the game.''
Dalton ended the day completing 18 of his 35 pass attempts for 155 yards, no scores, no interceptions and a lost fumble. He averaged 4.4 yards per attempt and was under duress all day, taking three sacks and being hit six more times.
Without Green and Gresham—and receiver Marvin Jones and tight end Tyler Eifert, who both landed on injured reserve after suffering foot and elbow injures, respectively—Dalton was tasked with trying to move the ball with the help of Mohamed Sanu, Greg Little and Brandon Tate, among others. Considering Dalton's thin receiving corps, it's no surprise he struggled.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2319073-can-andy-dalton-ever-give-bengals-enough-from-qb-position-in-the-postseason
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