Andy Dalton is PFF’s 2nd highest graded passer this season

Saint Spud said
That’s not what the discussion is.

I agree we should play Winston to evaluate him. Because this season is lost.

If we were playing for the division title at this point, you play Dalton because he’s our best option under current circumstances. And frankly, he’s been better than 1/3 to 1/2 of the starters around the league to this point. QBs he’s been better than:

Mac
Anyone from Indy
Anyone from the Jets
Anyone from the Texans
Anyone from Atlanta
Anyone from Carolina
Tannehill
Russ
Anyone from the Rams
Anyone from Cleveland
Anyone from Pittsburgh
Anyone from Washington

And a few others are debatable.

No one is saying he’s our franchise QB. But he’s been average. Not bad. Not terrible.
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He’s average over the course of a game, but when it counts, he’s bad. On 3rd down, in the 4th quarter, and when it comes to generating big plays. Being bad in those categories is typical of all backups. They need everything else to go perfect for them to win.

Also, he’s not the first backup QB ever to play better than the bottom third of the league. Ryan Fitzpatrick often played middle of the road football, but no team that started him ever went anywhere.