For Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Andy Dalton, it was a November to remember.
But what can fans expect from Dalton in December as the Bengals vie for the top playoff seed in their conference?
Data from WCPO’s Andy Dalton passing database show that Dalton might be even better this month.
Our interactive database tracks every pass the Bengals star has thrown during an NFL regular season and playoff game.
Dalton capped his November passing performance by completing 20 of 27 passes for 233 yards, three touchdowns and one interception last Sunday in the Bengals’ win over the St. Louis Rams.
That earned him a hefty 121.4 passer rating for the game, and an overall rating of 93.1 for the month.
The NFL’s passer rating is based on a scale of 0 to 158.3.
The 93.1 monthly rating was the second-highest November rating in Dalton’s five-year NFL career.
In 2012, he posted a 105.7 November rating. His rating dropped to 71.3 that December, but the Bengals still won four of five games that month to clinch a playoff spot.
The past two seasons, however, Dalton has improved in December games.
In 2013, he posted a 97.2 rating, compared to 55.9 in November that year. Last season, he finished with a strong December rating of 90.8 after posting a 68.8 rating in the previous month.
Over his career, data show that Dalton’s passer ratings are strongest during the first half of the regular season, drop a bit in November and rebound in December.
He’s followed the same course thus far this year, posting a 121 rating in September; a 111.6 rating in October, and the 93.1 rating last month.
But with ratings of 99.8 and 121.4 in the past two games, Dalton ended the month on a high note. His roller-coaster ratings for the first three November games were 64.7, 139.8 and 61.
Dalton’s December performances will be a big factor as the Bengals challenge the New England Patriots for first place in the American Football Conference.
The top seeded team has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Cincinnati, at 9-2, is the second seed behind 10-1 New England. The Denver Broncos, whom the Bengals play December 28, are also 9-2, and currently the third seed in the conference.
Check out the database below to see Dalton’s stats in different game situations and against different teams.
