There is a newfound sense of optimism surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals going into the 2018 NFL season. As a result, quarterback Andy Dalton has not been shy about the expectations for himself and wide receiver A.J. Green.

Dalton is coming off a rather disappointing 2017 campaign. However, according to Bleacher Report's Tyler Dunne, he is still hoping he and Green can become one of the most prolific QB-WR duos in NFL history:

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It is encouraging to see Dalton is confident is confident in the state of the passing game. However, his goals for reaching all-time status may be a bit far-fetched.

The two have had plenty of time to get acquainted after being selected in the first and second rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft. It goes without saying that Green has since established himself as the gold standard for wideouts.

He has been a model of consistency after registering 1,000-yard campaigns in all but one season ever since coming to Cincinnati. While there is no debating Green's star power, his production can be partly attributed to a healthy dosage of targets from his quarterback.

However, Dalton's fluctuating performance through the years is likely to prevent the duo from reaching all-time status. He is coming off one of his worst seasons yet after throwing for just 3,320 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. That said, he and Green will need to kick things up a notch moving forward if they are to establish themselves as a premier duo in league history.