This was originally published in The Athletic.
Andy Dalton’s first pass attempt of 2018 was a ghastly looking looper aimed at Joe Mixon. It ended up in the waiting hands of Colts cornerback Kenny Moore, an inauspicious beginning to the year that sparked instant flashbacks to last year’s first game.
You know, the one that began with the Bengals committing a false start penalty on the first play? The one that ended with Dalton having thrown four picks while leading the Bengals to zero points?
Yeah, that one.
You could be forgiven if, like me, you took Dalton’s game-opening interception as a sign of what was ahead. The Bengals were on the road. Andrew Luck was making his return. And even if the pick didn’t result in Indianapolis points – thank you, Preston Brown – the Lucas Oil Stadium crowd seemed poised to enjoy a day of reveling in Dalton’s continued foibles.
To read the entire piece, go to The Athletic.
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