The Bengals were already on the outside looking in at the playoffs, and their path got much harder when on Nov. 26, the team placed quarterback Andy Dalton on injured reserve due to a thumb injury.
While the team hasn't seen the postseason since losing to the Steelers in a 2016 wild card game, the front office won't blame Dalton, who is expected to return as their starter in 2019, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
In the 11 games he played, Dalton completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,566 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
However, Dalton did not perform particularly well during the Bengals' last six games, where they went a disappointing 1-5. He completed just 58 percent of his passes and had nine touchdowns against four interceptions for an 84.0 passer rating.
Cincinnati began the season 4-1 and looked to be positioned to dethrone the Steelers as AFC North champions. The Bengals have gone 1-5 since, with their one victory coming against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They've also lost to all three of their division rivals— the Steelers, Ravens and Browns— over that span.
Injuries played a big role in their slide, running back Joe Mixon and star wideout A.J. Green both missed time over the Bengal's losing streak. Mixon and Green are both back in the lineup today against Denver, but it will be 2016 sixth-round-pick Jeff Driskel under center.
The Bengals added former offensive coordinator and Browns head coach Hue Jackson to Lewis' staff after he was let go by Cleveland. Lewis' replacement may be sitting on his own sideline, however, it's highly unlikely that Dalton's eventual replacement is doing the same.
Follow Us
Subscribe