Andy Dalton Obvious Rookie of the Year Thanks to A.J. Green

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is definitely the Offensive Rookie of the Year this year, and a big part of his success has been rookie wide receiver A.J. Green.

Dalton and Green have combined to form one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the entire NFL, not to mention among rookies. Green has caught 63 passes for 1,031 yards and seven touchdowns. Dalton has completed 59 percent of his passes for 3,166 yards and 20 touchdowns, all very good marks for a rookie.

The biggest result of this duo’s abilities isn’t their individual stats. This same Bengals team that went 4-12 last season is now 9-6 and on the cusp of making the playoffs. That’s what makes Dalton the best candidate for Rookie of the Year.

Clearly, his biggest competitor is Cam Newton, who has done very well individually for the Carolina Panthers. Newton has thrown for 700 more yards and an equal number of touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 500 more yards and 13 more touchdowns.

It sounds pretty good on paper, but not when it comes down to wins and losses. Carolina is just 6-9, and Newton has been a reason for both the wins and losses. He’s thrown 16 interceptions, which isn’t that bad, but many have been game-losers.

Dalton has thrown fewer interceptions (13) and has his team in position to make the playoffs. He benefits from a playmakers around him, but so does Newton, who has tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen, star wide receiver Steve Smith and running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Dalton has A.J. Green, Jermaine Gresham and Cedric Benson, among others.

Both have very potent weapons. One has used his to build a very nice stat line. The other has used his to build a winning season and a playoff chance.

However, Dalton would be nowhere without his safety outlet in Green. Green’s stats are above and are great, but they don’t even tell the whole story. His ability to stretch the field has opened it up for Benson to run the ball and for other receivers to get open.

Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell have combined for 988 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Without Green and Dalton last year, they combined for about half of that. Jermaine Gresham has also been allowed to grow, catching 51 passes for 524 yards and six touchdowns as a tight end.

Green makes everyone on the field better, and that may make it seem like he should be the Rookie of the Year. Not so.

Dalton is the guy who gets the ball to all of these weapons. Without him, it wouldn’t matter if Green could stretch the field because no one would get the ball. Dalton is the guy who leads this team by playing as hard as possible and making good decisions.

The Bengals haven’t had that combination in a long time. Dalton is the Rookie of the Year, and with Green, he might just be in the top half of NFL quarterbacks. Green is a big part of this guy’s success, and not mentioning him in the “Dalton for ROY” conversation would be disrespectful.

Dalton is the guy, but his guy Green helps.