Andy Dalton’s 50-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green was the highlight of the Bengals’ preseason win in Atlanta on Thursday night.
As we said after Dalton left the game, it was the kind of deep ball that many have doubted Dalton has in his arsenal. Dalton showed he can get it out there on Thursday, though, and consistently doing that will open up a potential new avenue for the Bengals offense in the year to come. After the game, Dalton did a little crowing directed at those who thought he couldn’t make that throw.
“My arm feels great, and you can tell everybody that it’s not even close to what I’ve got if I need it,” Dalton said, via Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Dalton will have to do it more than once to convince the masses that arm strength isn’t a problem, but that was a good way to start. Future efforts will be helped by the fact that Green looks like he’s going to be even better than he was as a rookie. He abused Asante Samuel on that play on Thursday and didn’t look unlike Randy Moss as he blew down the sideline for the score.
The Bengals offensive line didn’t protect well enough and there’s still some questions about the rest of the wide receiver options, but the Dalton/Green tandem looks ready for the season.