Bengals may be even better than we've seen so far

[Jungletiger]

Doc: Bengals may be even better than we've seen so far

Paul Daugherty, pdaugherty@enquirer.com 9:09 p.m. EDT September 14, 2014

(Photo: The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger)

To recap: The Bengals lost their best offensive player early in the first quarter Sunday, and their best defensive player shortly after that. They missed three field goals, committed seven penalties. . . and had the Atlanta Falcons beaten by the middle of the third quarter.

When A.J. Green gimped off the field with a bad toe, Andy Dalton was without three receivers – Green, Marvin Jones and Tyler Eifert – who last year contributed 188 catches, 2,583 yards and 23 touchdowns to the cause. That bothered Dalton so much, he threw for 253 yards and a TD, and had a QB Rating of 116.6.

Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan came into this game having passed for a Falcons franchise record 448 yards last week. He looked like he was working in a hall closet Sunday. And he didn't even have Vontaze Burfict to worry about.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/columnists/paul-daugherty/2014/09/14/paul-daugherty-cincinnati-bengals/15640445/