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Dalton named Offensive Rookie of the Month
November 4, 2011

The NFL is announcing Thursday that Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has been named the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Month for October.

Dalton led the Bengals to a 4-0 record in October, becoming the first Bengals rookie quarterback to lead four straight victories. Two of the wins featured fourth-quarter comebacks. 

On Oct. 2 vs. Buffalo, the Bengals trailed 17-3 at halftime and won 23-20. In the second half, Dalton threw a TD pass, ran for another TD and led a 56-yard drive for the winning field goal as time expired. On Oct. 9 at Jacksonville, the Bengals trailed 20-16 before Dalton led a late TD drive that featured a nine-yard completion to the Jaguars 10 on a fourth-and-six play. 

“The leadership Andy has brought as a rookie is remarkable,” Bengals left tackle Andrew Witsworth said. “The kid shows gumption. He’s in our face. It takes a lot for a rookie to do that.” 

The Bengals drafted Dalton in the second round (35th overall) out of Texas Christian, where he posted a 42-7 record as a starter. 

Dalton passed for an average of 227.3 yards in the four October wins. He posted a 127.6 passer rating in the second half of the Buffalo comeback. In an Oct. 16 win over Indianapolis, his 78.1 completion percentage was a Bengals best in their last 30 games. He threw for six TDs and five INTs in October and had a passer rating of 83.1 

Dalton threw for a pair of TDs last week as the Bengals completed October with a 34-12 win at Seattle, posting their largest winning margin in their last 38 road games. 

Dalton is the third Bengal to win an NFL Rookie of the Month Award. Running back Corey Dillon was the Offensive winner in December 1997, and linebacker Odell Thurman was the Defensive winner in September 2005.