Andy Dalton Video Highlight: Watch Bengals Rookie QB Go Deep vs. Panthers

Andy Dalton to A.J. Green is something Cincinnati Bengals fans are hoping to hear a lot this year and for years to come. Their first touchdown as a quarterback-receiver battery took place on Thursday in their third preseason game.

Going against another high-profile rookie quarterback in Cam Newton, Dalton was the star of the show last night. He struggled in his first two preseason games, but last night he looked like the player that he was at TCU.

Dalton went 11-for-17 with 130 yards passing and one touchdown. He looked comfortable in the pocket and his accuracy, while still not where it needs to be, was better on Thursday than it was in his first two games.

The touchdown pass to Green was a thing of beauty. He took the snap from under center, was pressured by the Panthers' defensive line, got the throw away and dropped it right over the shoulder of A.J. Green.

This was the kind of play that the Bengals coaching staff needed to see from Dalton because they have a lot of question marks heading into the regular season.

This is going to be a transitional season for the Bengals as they adjust to a new quarterback and No. 1 receiver. They will also need big contributions from the defense and Cedric Benson if they want to compete in the brutal AFC North.

Dalton will have growing pains, like any rookie quarterback, but as long as he shows that he is not overwhelmed by the stage of the NFL and is able to keep his confidence high even as he struggles, the Bengals could have a quarterback-receiver duo that is better than Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco.

Dalton and Green have a long way to go before they get to that level, but plays like this 40-yard touchdown pass inspire hope for a franchise that needs something to cheer about.