NFL power rankings: 32-team overreactions heading into Week 2
By Peter Panacy
A win over the Colts at this point in the year isn’t totally impressive. But one does have to give the Bengals a bit of credit for getting off strong after an offseason which saw plenty of criticism directed Cincinnati’s way for continuing to endorse head coach Marvin Lewis and quarterback Andy Dalton.
The Bengals needed Dalton to be good going up against Andrew Luck, and he was, tossing two touchdowns against an interception and posting a passer rating of 109.7.
Dalton and Co. got some help from sloppy and penalty-riddled Colts defenders during their 17-point fourth-quarter comeback, which sealed the 34-23 victory. Running back Joe Mixon was a big factor too, logging one of the two touchdowns in the quarter and finishing with an impressive 5.6 yards per carry.
If Mixon helps balance out Cincy’s offense this season, we might actually see Dalton return to some level of respectability.
How’s that for a Week 1 overreaction?