Bengals’ rookie QB, WR are clicking

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Andy Dalton threw for 332 yards in the Mile High air. A.J. Green caught 10 passes for 124 yards and another body-twisting touchdown.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ rookie combination is starting to click.

The Dalton-to-Green connection helped the Bengals make a second-half comeback that fell just short in Denver on Sunday. The Broncos’ depleted defense held on for a 24-22 win that provided the Bengals a glimpse of where their offense is headed.

“They’re showing they’ve grown quite a bit in the short training camp we had and the last couple of games,” running back Cedric Benson said Monday.

Forced to throw because the Bengals were down, Dalton was on-target with all types of passes under pressure. He finished 27 of 41 with two touchdowns and a passer rating of 107 — quite impressive under the conditions.

“He didn’t force the ball into coverage,” coach Marvin Lewis said Monday. “When he had opportunities down the field, he made the throws.

“He handled it all and that was good and he was decisive with it.”

The Bengals (1-1) did very little in the first half with a conservative, run-based approach. Dalton was limited to short throws and the Bengals had only four first downs.

When they opened up the offense in the second half to try to catch up, Dalton went 19 of 30 for 280 yards with two touchdowns. His 84-yard catch-and-run with Jerome Simpson set up Green’s acrobatic 5-yard touchdown catch that cut it to 24-22 early in the fourth quarter.

On the sideline, Dalton acted like a veteran, walking along the bench pumping up his teammates.

“Andy — you all saw it,” Green said. “He is primed to be great. His composure, his confidence and the way he can throw the ball to everybody.”

Even though they came up short, the Bengals came away impressed with Dalton.

“He’s magnificent,” Simpson said. “He didn’t play like a rookie. He played with poise and kept us in this game.”