Andy Dalton: Why Playoff Win Would Make Bengals QB Most Deserving ROY Candidate

Andy Dalton isn't going to win the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. But if he and the Bengals defeat the Texans this weekend, Dalton will deserve the title of Rookie of the Year even if he doesn't have an award to put on his mantle.

Members of the Associated Press submit their votes for Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year immediately after the regular season ends, and chances are, they are going to vote Cam Newton.

It's understandable. You could make the argument that Newton had the greatest rookie season in NFL history, finishing the year with 35 touchdowns, 4,051 passing yards and 706 rushing yards.

He set the NFL rookie record in pass yardage, became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 500 yards and set the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

And man, is he fun to watch.

So yes, Newton had the best statistical season. Yes, he had better highlights.

That is undeniable.

But Andy Dalton led his team to playoffs. And a rookie leading a team no one expected anything from this season to a Wild Card berth cannot be ignored.

Consider the following: Newton turned the ball over 20 times this year (17 interceptions, three fumbles). Dalton finished with 16 (13 interceptions, three fumbles). Newton led the Panthers on one game-winning drive. Dalton had four. The Panthers finished with six wins. The Bengals finished win nine and made the playoffs.

In other words, Dalton did what he needed to do to win.

He may someday develop into an elite quarterback. He certainly isn't there yet. But the Bengals didn't need him to be elite this year—they just needed him manage the game and limit his errors.

He delivered.

Dalton's 3,398 yards passing and 20 touchdowns aren't overwhelming stats. But if Dalton leads the Bengals past the Texans—and I fully expect the game to rest on his shoulders with the Texans' stout run defense—he would have unquestionably had a more successful season than Newton.

Stats are nice, but football games aren't won on spreadsheets. And if quarterbacks are generally the first to be blamed in losses, they also deserve our admiration in wins.

So yes, Cam Newton's rookie stats were incredible. But if Andy Dalton leads his team to a playoff win, his rookie year will have been an overwhelming success in the most important place:

The win column.

Hit me up on the Twitter—all the cool kids are doing it.