AJ McCarron Remains Solid, but Bengals Need Return Boost from Andy Dalton

The Cincinnati Bengals are heading to the playoffs, but they might not last long without the swift return of their starting quarterback. 

AJ McCarron proved himself as more than just a game manager throughout his second NFL start on Monday Night Football against one of the league's best defenses in the Denver Broncos. But despite a valiant effort from the defense that kept Denver under wraps for the better part of 60 minutes, they fell 20-17 in an overtime thriller.

You certainly can't blame McCarron for the loss by any means—he went a solid 22-of-35 for 200 yards and a nice early touchdown—but with the Bengals sporting a two-touchdown lead early, his offense sputtered to just three second-half points.

McCarron made all the throws early against the Broncos' tight man defense on the edge, but it didn't last throughout the game. Not counting their lone field-goal drive in the fourth, their last seven drives produced all of 43 combined yards.

The deep balls to A.J. Green that the Cincinnati offense is predicated on weren't there Monday, as Green caught just five of nine targets for 57 yards and a score. NFL captured one of McCarron's near misses of Green:

To McCarron's credit, he didn't get a ton of help from an offensive line that wilted down the stretch and allowed a lot of late-game pressure that led to the Bengals' overtime loss. The run game also barely surpassed three yards per carry on 33 attempts.

But the chances were there, and they ended up just out of reach. The errors were small from McCarron, but they were enough to make it tough to hang with one of the AFC's elite late as Cian Fahey of Bleacher Report noted:

"

McCarron couldn't do much against pressure and deep throws were bad. Not a strong game for him. Not awful either.

— Cian Fahey (@Cianaf) December 29, 2015"

Late in the game, when the Bengals needed a steady hand behind center the most, McCarron again couldn't deliver as he bobbled the overtime snap that led to a game-ending fumble. The second-year quarterback took the blame on that play after the game, as Jay Morrison of Cox Media Group noted:

Considering he won his first NFL start last week and came drastically close to knocking off the Broncos on the road in his second, you can't ask for much more from McCarron. He's filled in quite well, and done just about everything he's been asked to do.

But it can't be ignored that another AFC battle, similar to the ones they'll have in January, didn't go their way Monday night when victory was right there in the Bengals' grasp.

Not that Dalton has exactly proven himself in the postseason thus far in his NFL career, but there's no secret that he's the engine that makes this offense click. His chemistry with Green and ability to protect the ball is what's missing with McCarron in the lineup.

So with Week 17 fast approaching, and the Bengals' first-round bye status now up in the air, the question now becomes whether Dalton can return in time to save the day and revitalize the team's season. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided the latest prior to Monday's game:

Needless to say, that didn't happen—the win on Monday, that is. And now the likelihood is increasing that McCarron will get his first taste of playoff football to follow up his first three NFL starts.

The Bengals defense is undoubtedly stepping it up and showing some postseason form, but they can't do all the heavy lifting. Splash plays from the offense, that are so dependent upon Dalton being in the lineup, will be desperately needed come playoff time.

With that being said, Cincinnati might have just enough to hold on beyond the wild-card round should they face a team like the New York Jets or Kansas City Chiefs. But if Monday's game is any indication, the Bengals won't get much further without the effective return of Andy Dalton.