Blame for Bengals' Inability to Win Big Games Isn't All Andy Dalton's

Despite all the success the Cincinnati Bengals have enjoyed on the field over the past three seasons, it's been a different story under the bright lights in prime time or the postseason. After Sunday night's blowout loss to the New England Patriots, the Bengals fell to 2-8 in prime-time or playoff games since Andy Dalton took over at quarterback.

The Red Rifle has absorbed his fair share of criticism for those defeats, much of it justified. In this case, however, it wasn't the fourth-year pro's fault the Bengals shrank in the spotlight yet again.

It didn't take long after the game ended for barbs to be directed at Dalton and the Bengals:

It's not hard to see where the fuel comes from for these criticisms. Dalton is now 1-5 in road starts played after the sun goes down. The difference between Dalton's statistics in regular-season and playoff games is both glaring and alarming.

	Games	Comp. %	Yds/Game	TD	INT	Rate	W/L
Season	52	61.1	236.3	84	50	86.6	33-19
Playoffs	3	56.9	239.3	1	6	56.2	0-3

Dalton told Coley Harvey of ESPN before the Patriots game that he was well aware of the perception that the bigger the stage, the worse he and the Bengals perform.

"We want to be playing our best when we get a chance to play at night when everybody is watching," Dalton said. "That's what we're setting out to do."

After yet another big-game drubbing, Lewis was singing a different tune while speaking with the Associated Press via ESPN.

"If you turn the ball over and don't make any third downs, you have a chance to have this happen to you," Lewis said.

There's no denying that the Bengals laid an egg Sunday night. However, it wasn't Dalton who was doing the majority of the clucking.

Mind you, this isn't to say Dalton played the game of his life either. The 26-year-old bears at least some of the responsibility for the fact that the Bengals failed to convert a single third down during the game. Dalton missed A.J. Green with a long touchdown pass.

However, Dalton also didn't turn the ball over, completed over 62 percent of his passes and posted a passer rating of well over 100.

Comp.	Att.	Pct.	Yards	TD	INT	Rating	QBR
15	24	62.3	204	2	0	117.4	60.9

He may not have played as well as Tom Brady, but he didn't exactly stink up the joint either.

It wasn't Dalton's fault that numerous receivers dropped passes, including an easy touchdown drop by tight end Jermaine Gresham. Dalton wasn't responsible for any of the three fumbles the team lost.

Dalton had very little to do with the Cincinnati pass rush failing to pressure Brady a week after the Kansas City Chiefs harassed the Golden Boy relentlessly. Dalton wasn't covering New England tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Tim Wright, who combined for 11 catches, 185 yards and two touchdowns.

Strong safety George Iloka confessed to Harvey that the defense let the team down in Week 5:

"

We hate losing in general, but this one stings a lot. We came out flat, and they came out fired up. They had a tough loss last Monday and the whole nation was watching, and we didn't play Bengals football. We have to lick our wounds, watch the tape and bounce back like they did. That's a good example. They got embarrassed last week and look how they came out this week."

"

Iloka hit the nail on the head. After yet another prime-time meltdown, it's not to hard to understand why many fans would just assume Dalton had disappointed again. After all, it's become a theme with both the young quarterback and his team in big games since 2011.

This time, though, it wasn't Dalton who let the Bengals down.

It was the other way around.

Gary Davenport is an NFL Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter @IDPManor.