CHARLOTTE—In what seems like a lifetime ago, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted a young gunslinger from TCU. Andy Dalton came into the league off an undefeated season with the Horned Frogs, a second-round pick who was thrust right into action for the Ohio version of the Queen City.
For nine years, Dalton was the starting quarterback for the Bengals, going 70-61-2 as a starter. In 2020, one week after drafting Joe Burrow No. 1 overall, Cincinnati said goodbye to Dalton.
Since then, Dalton has faced his former team three times, going 2-1 in those matchups. With the fourth showdown looming on Sunday, we take a look back at each of those three games, to see how Dalton fared against the team that drafted him to the league.
2020 season: Cowboys vs. Bengals
Result: 30-7 Dallas win
Dalton Stats: 16-of-23 (69.6 percent) for 185 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions
The Cowboys began their season with Dak Prescott as their starter, but an injury in Week 5 thrust Dalton back into the QB1 role. A concussion in Week 7, and then a COVID diagnosis heading into Week 9 kept Dalton off the field periodically. But he was back and healthy by Week 14, when the Cowboys headed to Cincy to face his former team.
Coming into the game, the Bengals were 2-9-1 and the Cowboys were 3-9. While Dalton's passing numbers were low in the game, he finished with his second-best quarterback rating, 122.6, of the season.
"This one was special," Dalton said after the win. "A lot of range of emotions, from being back in the city, being in the stadium, being on the other side, all that kind of stuff. Good to have the emotion at the end of being very happy that we got this win."
2021 season: Bears vs. Bengals
Result: 20-17 Bears win
Dalton Stats: 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) for 56 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions
The following year, Dalton faced his former team again, this time in Chicago. He started the game on a roll, with a score through the air, as well as adding two rushes for 25 yards. Late in the second quarter, on a 14-yard run, Dalton sustained a knee injury while going out of bounds. Justin Fields took over duties for the game, building on the lead Dalton had built, to finish with the win.
2022 season: Saints vs. Bengals
Result: 30-26 New Orleans loss
Dalton Stats: 17-of-32 (53.1 percent) for 162 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions
For the third time in as many years, Dalton suited up as the starter against his old squad. It was only his third start of the season, as the Saints began the year with Jameis Winston at QB1. Dalton was named the starter ahead of Week 4 after Winston was injured. The Saints kept most of their game plan on the ground (228 rushing yards), and Dalton threw for his third fewest passing yards of the season.
Dalton was without the Saints top three receivers for the game but led an offense that scored on four consecutive possessions, before stalling late in the fourth quarter.
"We got to take pride in being at our best in those moments," Dalton told reporters after the game. "We weren't today."
The Bengals squad Dalton and the Saints faced that day, went on to finish the season 14-5, making it to the AFC Championship.
Andy Dalton is entering his 13th season after playing with the Bengals (2011-19), Cowboys (2020), Bears (2021) and Saints (2022). He has 38,150 career passing yards, ranking sixth among currently active players.
New Orleans Saints' Andy Dalton in action during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs off the field after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. The Saints won 20-10. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) in action during the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton watches during the second half an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton throws during the first half an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton passes during the first half an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
New Orleans Saints' Andy Dalton in action before an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs onto the field before the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New Orleans Saints' Andy Dalton in action before an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton (14)looks to pass the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton (14) on the field during pregame warmups prior to an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton rolls out to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears QB Andy Dalton during an interview after an NFL game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 in Detroit. (Zachary Silver via AP)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) throws a pass prior to an NFL Football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) in action during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) throws a pass under pressure from San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2020, file photo, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs off the field after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati. The Chicago Bears agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with former Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton, agent Jeffrey Nalley said Tuesday, March 16, 2021. The three-time Pro Bowler could earn an additional $3 million in bonuses. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn, File)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) scrambles out of the pocket to throw a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 27. 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton, right, tries to evade the New York Giants defense during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrates tight end Tyler Kroft's (81) touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) greets fans after an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019 in Cincinnati. (NFL Photos via AP)
En foto del 15 de diciembre del 2019, el quarterback de los Bengals de Cincinnati Andy Dalton lanza el balón en el juego ante los Patriots de Nueva Inglaterra. El 30 de abril del 2020 Cincinnati deja libre a Dalton, que aún tenÃa un año en su contrato, y le deja el camino a Joe Burrow, la primera selección del draft se liderar al equipo. (AP Photo/Frank Victores, File)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) looks to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton looks to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah, right, and quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrate after a 15-yard touchdown by Uzomah during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton takes the field before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) walks off the field after losing their NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of a NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Tom Puskar)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton, right, greets Cincinnati Bengals' Andy Dalton, left, after during an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Jason E. Miczek)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) stands on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Cincinnati Bengals' Andy Dalton (14) looks to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) signs autographs as he leaves the field after warm ups before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton passes in the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton performs at the on-field set for Thursday Night Football after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs out during player introductions before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton looks to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
