Most players will deny letting old losses get to them, lest anyone thing their focus on the present is anything other than singular.
But Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton admitted it, last night’s win over the Browns was a little sweeter for him based on the way last year’s prime time game against the Browns went.
“A little different than last year, huh?” Dalton said post-game, via Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Yeah, just a little. A year ago, Dalton threw three interceptions and had a 2.0 quarterback rating and lost by three touchdowns to the Browns. Last night, he threw three touchdowns and had a 139.8 rating in a 31-10 win over that same division opponent.
“I wasn’t focused on what had happened last year,” Dalton said. “Was it in the back of my mind? Yes, absolutely. It was the exact same circumstance last year.
“There was so much that was so similar to last year, but I wasn’t worried about what happened last year because I feel like I’m in such a better place and such a better player this year than I was last year. So, it feels good to be sitting here now, rather than how I was last year.”
Where Dalton’s sitting now is in charge of an 8-0 team with one of the most productive offenses in the league, spreading the ball among multiple weapons seemingly at will. Thursday, 247 of the 371 yards of total offense came in the second half, as the Bengals pulled away from the in-state rival which embarrassed them a year ago this time.
So yes, Dalton should enjoy it, as he continues to put aside past burdens one-by-one, at least until the playoffs roll around and he has a chance to do the same with the biggest one.