WEEKLY NEWS RELEASE AUG. 15, 2017 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-0)

CINCINNATI BENGALS One Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-3550 administrative offices (513) 621-3570 administrative fax (513) 621-TDTD (8383) ticket office www.bengals.com WEEKLY NEWS RELEASE AUG. 15, 2017 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-0) Kickoff: 7 p.m. Television: Live coverage on the Bengals Preseason Network with Brad Johansen (play-by-play) and Anthony Munoz (analyst). The network is led by flagship WKRC-TV (CBS Channel 12) in Cincinnati. Also on the network are WKEF-TV (ABC Ch. 22) in Dayton, WSYX-TV (ABC Ch. 6) in Columbus, WLIO- TV (FOX Ch. 8.2) in Lima, WDKY-TV FOX Ch. 56) in Lexington, Ky. and WDRB- TV (FOX Ch. 41) in Louisville, Ky. Radio: Coverage on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship stations WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst). Setting the scene: When the Cincinnati Bengals host the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium, Bengals coaches figure to assign more playing time for the first-team offense and first-team defense than they did in last week s 23-12 win over Tampa Bay in the preseason opener. Comprised mostly of veterans, those starting units will be depended upon to lead the team in the 2017 regular season, and against the Buccaneers, they played with intact lineups for only one drive each. Preseason games, however, largely are about coaching staffs taking long looks at depth, particularly with respect to youth. And in the win over the Bucs, there was a relatively large group of the youngest Bengals, mostly rookies and second-year players, who had noteworthy individual performances. So, this weekend, once the first-teamers retreat to the sidelines against the Chiefs, there is no doubt that coaches will be eager to begin determining whether the contributions of those youngsters last week were isolated instances, or dependable previews of things to come. I was pleased overall with the Bucs game and the fact we put ourselves in good situations, said head coach Marvin Lewis. Our young guys had the opportunity to go out there and experience the NFL, and we ve just got to keep moving them (forward). When we look at the tapes of these preseason games, we re really going to learn some good information about them and others. Among rookies against Tampa Bay, fans saw the Bengals 2017 draft class flex its collective muscle. Injured first-round draft pick John Ross (shoulder) had not yet been cleared for contact and missed the Bucs game, but several of the Bengals draftees selected behind him stepped in and played key roles. Perhaps the most notable performance was that of DE Jordan Willis, the Bengals third-round draft pick out of Kansas State. The stat sheet stated that Willis had three tackles including a sack, but game video disclosed much more. Willis rushed Bucs passers from various spots on both sides of Cincinnati s defensive line and consistently beat blockers to apply pressure. And after hurrying passes, Willis was either tackling or assisting in the tackles of Tampa Bay ball carriers, often hustling downfield a considerable distance from where he started in the Buccaneers backfield. On offense, second-round pick Joe Mixon rushed for 31 yards on six carries (5.2-yard average) and caught one pass for 11 yards. En route to compiling those numbers, the rookie HB out of Oklahoma flashed his abilities to avoid, shed and outrun would-be tacklers. Fourth-round selection Josh Malone, a WR out of Tennessee, caught two passes, including the game s lone TD pass, an eight-yard strike from QB Jeff Driskel in the third quarter that helped the Bengals begin to pull away from the Bucs on the way to the win. On special teams, K Jake Elliott, a fifth-round draft pick out of Memphis, nailed a 45-yard field goal with plenty of distance to spare in the second quarter, and all three of his kickoffs GAME NOTES 1 PRESEASON GAME 2 SATURDAY, AUG. 19 AT PAUL BROWN STADIUM NEXT WEEK: PRESEASON GAME 3 AUG. 27 AT WASHINGTON reached the Tampa Bay end zone, with one landing beyond the end zone for a touchback. And in addition to Willis performance on defense, sixth-round selection Jordan Evans of Oklahoma and fourth-round selection Carl Lawson of Auburn deserve mention. Evans had an eye-catching line on the stat sheet, tying for the lead with six total tackles, including five solos. And Lawson, who has impressed coaches in training camp practices as he makes the switch from college defensive lineman to pro linebacker, was noticeable on several plays early in the game in the team s nickel package, adding one assist. In addition, though he was not a draft pick, college free agent S Demetrious Cox had three solo tackles, plus a fourth-quarter interception on the Bengals 11-yard line that he returned 37 yards to midfield. When highlighting the contributions of young players in the Bengals win over Tampa Bay in the preseason opener, it s difficult to mention those of the rookies without also mentioning those of a number of second-year players. Among second-year vets who played well against Tampa Bay, QB Jeff Driskel had perhaps the most notable performance of that group, and probably of the entire game itself. Acquired by the Bengals on waivers from San Francisco after final cuts last preseason, Driskel saw his first action as a Bengal against the Bucs, and he did not disappoint. He played the entire second half and completed eight of nine passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, registering a near-perfect 148.6 passer rating (a perfect rating is 158.3). He showed poise and accuracy, as well as the ability to throw well on the run. He also displayed a penchant for scrambling and rushing, leading the team in rushing with 34 yards on five carries (6.8-yard average), including another touchdown, an 18-yarder in which he juked one would-be tackler and then made two other would-be tacklers run into each other while he escaped for the score without being touched. Second-year guard Christian Westerman played nearly half the game, and his name was mentioned on broadcasts several times for good blocks on both passing and rushing plays. Also on the offensive line, second-year player Trey Hopkins started at RG and played most of the first half, with a solid performance in an line demonstration that graded out well overall. Though technically a second-year player, Hopkins actually is in his fourth season with the team. He originally was a college free agent signee of the Bengals in 2014 and spent his entire rookie season on Reserve/Injured list with a leg injury, then spent 15 and all but two games of 16 on the team s practice squad. Also on offense, the Bengals have a trio of second-year WRs who recorded catches against the Bucs Alex Erickson (a team-leading three receptions for 50 yards), Cody Core (one catch for 17 yards) and Tyler Boyd (one catch for eight yards). On defense, second-year players who played significant roles included LB Nick Vigil (started at SLB and tied for team lead with six tackles, including three solos), CB William Jackson (started at LCB; three solo tackles), S Clayton Fejedelem (started at FS; two tackles and one pass defensed) and DT Andrew Billings (one assisted tackle; generally disruptive overall against Bucs offensive linemen). Additionally, it is worth mentioning two other young players third-year OTs Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher, who started at LOT and ROT, respectively, against Tampa Bay. They were on the field for the majority of the first half and played well against both the first-team and second-team defenses of the Buccaneers. Bengals celebrate 50th season: The Bengals are celebrating their 50th season in 2017. A commemorative logo is featured on patches the team will wear on home and road uniforms, on the field at Paul Brown Stadium and on the windows of the East Club Lounge facing downtown Cincinnati. Three-

(Bengals celebrate 50th season, continued) dimensional sculptures of the 50th season logo are located throughout the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton areas, including Paul Brown Stadium. A key component of the Bengals 50th season celebration is the Bengals First 50, which recognizes the top 50 retired Bengals players as voted by fans and media. The Bengals First 50 and other Bengals legends will be recognized during halftime ceremonies at every regular-season home game, which will include video highlights and an on-field presentation. Additionally, the two Super Bowl head coaches and 26 retired players were named to the Bengals All-50th Team, which will be recognized on banners throughout the east and west sideline concourses in Paul Brown Stadium. The banners will be unveiled at the Bengals regular-season home opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 10. The series: The Bengals and Chiefs last played in preseason on Aug. 7, 2014, a 41-39 Chiefs home victory in what was the first preseason meeting between the two since 1988. The Chiefs now lead the preseason series 8-0. Of those eight matchups, three have been in Cincinnati, four in Kansas City, and one in Jackson, Miss. (1969). The Bengals first game of any kind was against the Chiefs, in Cincinnati s inaugural preseason contest, played Aug. 3, 1968 at Nippert Stadium on the University of Cincinnati campus. The Chiefs won, 38-14. In regular season, the Bengals lead 15-13. The two last met on Oct. 4, 2015, with the Bengals prevailing 36-21 at home. Cincinnati has won the last four regular-season contests against Kansas City. The 2003 game in Cincinnati was a particularly memorable one, as a 4-5 Bengals club toppled a 9-0 Chiefs squad 24-19 during Marvin Lewis first season as head coach. Bengals-Chiefs connections: Bengals tight ends coach Jonathan Hayes played for the Chiefs from 1985-93... Chiefs running backs coach Eric Bieniemy played for the Bengals from 1995-98... Chiefs TE Travis Kelce played at the University of Cincinnati... Chiefs RB Spencer Ware attended Princeton High School in Cincinnati... Bengals DE Jordan Willis is from Kansas City (Rockhurst High School) and played at Kansas State University... Chiefs LB Marcus Rush is from Cincinnati (Archbishop Moeller High School)... Bengals DE Wallace Gilberry played with Kansas City from 2008-11... Bengals CB KeiVarae Russell entered the NFL as a third-round draft choice (No. 73 overall) of the Chiefs in 2016... Chiefs TE Orson Charles entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft choice (No. 116 overall) of the Bengals in 2012 and was with the team through the 2013 season... Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons Marvin Lewis in 2017 extends his Bengals-record head coaching tenure to 15 seasons, nearly twice that of Paul Brown (1968-75) and Sam Wyche ( 84-91), who are tied for second with eight seasons each. Lewis has led his teams to the postseason seven times, including a five-year run from 2011-15. The total number of playoff trips and the five-year streak of consecutive appearances are Bengals records, and the Bengals were one of only four NFL teams to reach the playoffs every year from 2011-15. The playoff run ended in 2016, however, as Cincinnati finished 6-9-1. The Bengals last five losses came by a total of 16 points. Injuries were a greaterthan-usual factor, and crucial missed place kicks plagued the team to an extent not seen for many years. Lewis opens the 2017 season with 118 career victories, the most in Bengals history by a margin of 54 over Wyche (64). Lewis record is 118-103-3 in the regular season and 118-110-3 including postseason. The Bengals 58-36-2 record over the last six regular seasons gives the team a.615 winning percentage for the span, ranked sixth in the NFL. The 2016 season ended with reassurance that Lewis has developed the most crucial element for a return to postseason, an accomplished quarterback in his prime. Though Andy Dalton didn t match his overall statistics from 2015, which included a Bengals-record 106.3 passer rating, his stats were still good and he displayed great leadership. He closed the season with his third Pro Bowl berth. In 2017, Dalton figures to get much more help from his receiving corps. A.J. Green missed all but two snaps of the last seven games of 16, after starting the season with numbers that projected to team records by a wide margin in catches and receiving yards. TE Tyler Eifert, a 2015 Pro Bowler, also missed roughly half the season due to injuries. Additionally, WR Tyler Boyd figures to keep improving after a strong rookie season, and No. 9 overall draft pick John Ross also joins the group. THE HEAD COACHES 2 is from Elkhart, Kan., and played (1993-95) and coached ( 96) at the University of Kansas... Chiefs OL Parker Ehinger played at the University of Cincinnati... Chiefs WR Robert Wheelwright is from Columbus, Ohio (Walnut Ridge High School)... Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt played at the University of Toledo... Chiefs WR Gehrig Dieter played two seasons at Bowling Green State University (2014-15) before transferring to the University of Alabama. BENGALS-CHIEFS 2016 NFL RANKINGS BENGALS CHIEFS SCORING (AVERAGE POINTS): Points scored... 24th (20.3) 13th (24.3) Points allowed... 8th (19.7) 7th (19.4) NET OFFENSE (AVERAGE YARDS): Total... 13th (356.9) 20th (343.0) Rushing... 13th (110.6) 15th (109.3) Passing... 15th (246.4) 19th (233.8) NET DEFENSE (AVERAGE YARDS): Total... 17th (350.8) 24th (368.5) Rushing... 21st (113.3) 26th (121.1) Passing... 11th (237.5) 18th (247.4) TURNOVERS: Differential...12th (plus-3) T-1st (plus-16) BENGALS 2016 RED-ZONE REPORT OFFENSE DEFENSE Inside-20 possessions: 54 Inside-20 possessions: 49 Total scores: 49 (90.7%) Total scores: 42 (85.7%) TDs: 29 (53.7) TDs: 25 (51.0%) FGs: 20 (37.0%) FGs: 17 (34.7%) TD% rank: 18th TD% rank: 7th No scores: 5 (9.3%) No scores: 6 (14.3%) CHIEFS 2016 RED-ZONE REPORT OFFENSE DEFENSE Inside-20 possessions: 55 Inside-20 possessions: 53 Total scores: 46 (83.6%) Total scores: 42 (79.2%) TDs: 25 (45.5%) TDs: 26 (49.1%) FGs: 21 (38.2%) FGs: 16 (30.2%) TD% rank: 30th TD% rank: 5th No scores: 9 (16.4%) No scores: 11 (20.8%) The 16 Bengals also closed with a rush on defense, finishing eighth in the NFL in fewest points allowed (19.7). Under coordinator Paul Guenther, the 15 Bengals finished second at 17.4. The 15 Bengals were widely considered as Lewis best team thus far. Their 12-4 record tied the 1981 and 88 Super Bowl teams for the best winning percentage (.750) in a 16-game season. The Bengals finished second in franchise history in average scoring differential, outscoring foes by 8.8 points per game. Lewis in 2017 ranks second among NFL head coaches in longest current tenure with one team, trailing only Bill Belichick, who is in his 18th straight season with New England. In the category of most seasons as head coach with one or more teams, Lewis ranks fourth among active coaches, behind Belichick (23rd season in 17), Andy Reid (19) and John Fox (16). Lewis has developed an impressive coaching tree during his Bengals tenure. Five of his former assistants have become NFL head coaches, and four of those are leading teams in 2017. The list, including their teams and head coaching tenures, includes former Bengals offensive coordinators Jay Gruden (Washington, 2014-17) and Hue Jackson (Cleveland, 16-17), former defensive coordinators Leslie Frazier (Minnesota, 10-13) and Mike Zimmer (Minnesota, 14-17) and former defensive backs coach Vance Joseph (Denver, 17). Lewis was the consensus choice for NFL Coach of the Year in 2009, when the Bengals won the AFC North Division while sweeping all six division games. The Bengals also were AFC North champions under Lewis in 2005, 13 and 15. Named the ninth head coach in Bengals history on Jan. 14, 2003, Lewis started quickly. His 03 club finished 8-8, six games better than the 02 club, good for the biggest improvement in the NFL. Lewis came to the Bengals with credentials as a record-setting NFL defensive coordinator, having played a huge role in a championship season. His six seasons (1996-2001) as Baltimore Ravens coordinator included a Super

(The head coaches, continued) Bowl victory in 00, when his defense set the NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game campaign (165). That team clipped 22 points off the previous mark. The 2000 Ravens are always an entry in discussions regarding the best NFL defensive units of all time. In 2002, the season before he joined the Bengals, Lewis led the Washington Redskins to a No. 5 NFL defensive ranking, serving as assistant head coach as well as defensive coordinator. He had his first NFL assignment from 1992-95, as linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He aided the development of four Pro Bowl players Kevin Greene, Chad Brown, Levon Kirkland and Greg Lloyd. Lewis began his coaching career as linebackers coach at his alma mater Idaho State from 1981-84. ISU s team (also nicknamed the Bengals) finished 12-1 in Lewis first season there and won the NCAA Division 1-AA championship. Lewis played LB at Idaho State, earning All-Big Sky Conference honors for three consecutive years (1978-80). He also saw action at quarterback and free safety during his college career. He received his bachelor s degree in physical education from Idaho State in 1981, and earned his master s in athletic administration in 82. He was inducted into Idaho State s Hall of Fame in 2001. Born Sept. 23, 1958, Lewis attended Fort Cherry High School in McDonald, Pa. (near Pittsburgh), where he was an all-conference quarterback and safety. He also earned high school letters in wrestling and baseball. He and his wife, Peggy, have a daughter, Whitney, and a son, Marcus. Marcus Lewis joined the Bengals coaching staff for 2014 and remains on the staff for 17. Andy Reid was named the 13th head coach in Kansas City Chiefs history on January 7, 2013. Reid is entering his 26th season in the NFL overall and his 19th as an NFL head coach in 2017. In his fourth season with the Chiefs in 2016, Reid led the team to 12 wins, bringing his total to 44 victories in his first four seasons with Kansas City. Additionally, Reid led the Chiefs to their first playoff win since 1993, with a win at Houston in the Wild Card round of the 2015 playoffs. In his first season in Kansas City in 2013, Reid helped orchestrate the franchise s best single-season turnaround as the Chiefs won 11 games and Rockin in the Jungle: The Bengals sport a 23-7-1 record (.758 winning percentage) in the regular season at Paul Brown Stadium over the last four seasons. That s the second-best home-stadium record for Cincinnati over a four-year span, topped only by a 23-5 mark (.821) posted from 1973-76 at Riverfront Stadium. Over the 23-7-1 stretch, the Bengals have held opposing passers to a rating of just 70.9. An individual with a 70.9 rating in 2016 would have ranked 30th among qualifiers for the NFL rankings, and an individual at 70.9 for 15 would have ranked 34th. Give it up to the fans in The Jungle, they re the 12th man, says DE Carlos Dunlap. They make it hard on quarterbacks to make checks and adjustments. It s a lot easier to play in front of the home crowd. And the last couple of years, it s been way louder than when I first got here. The last two or three years it s been crazy loud. That s what you call home-field advantage, says DE Michael Johnson. The fans bring great energy. They know when to get loud, and they also know when to quiet down. I love playing here. It s one of the loudest places I ve ever heard, especially on third down. It s tough to come into The Jungle. Five Bengals named to Pro Bowl: Five Bengals earned Pro Bowl nods last season. WR A.J. Green and DT Geno Atkins were selected in the initial voting, while QB Andy Dalton, OT Andrew Whitworth (now with the Los Angeles Rams) and DE Carlos Dunlap were added as alternates. Green did not play, due to a hamstring injury. Defense closes 16 with momentum: The Bengals 10- point yield to Baltimore in last season s finale closed a stretch of seven games in which Cincinnati held opponents under 20 points six times and allowed a (sevengame) average of only 15.0. The effort pushed Cincinnati into a top 10 NFL finish in fewest points allowed for the full season, ranking eighth at 19.7 points per game. The Bengals ranked second in scoring defense in the 2015 season (17.4), and in 2014, Paul Guenther s first as defensive coordinator, Cincinnati ranked 12th in scoring defense. My job is to limit points, period, Guenther said. That s what I get paid to do. It s not holding them to 200 yards but have three plays be touchdowns. Regardless of where they get the ball if we turn it over (on offense) and it s the BENGALS NOTES 3 made the playoffs after going 2-14 the previous season. Prior to joining the Chiefs, he served as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 years (1999-2012), earning NFL Coach of the Year honors three times. Reid compiled the best win total (140) and playoff victory total (10) in Philadelphia Eagles history, capturing six division titles and five trips to the NFC Championship Game. In his 24-year NFL coaching career, Reid s teams have made the playoffs 17 times (19-16 record). He has coached in the Super Bowl three times and in the NFC Championship nine times. Prior to becoming Philadelphia s head coach, Reid was an assistant coach with Green Bay (1992-98) under Mike Holmgren. With Green Bay, he helped the Packers earn a Super Bowl XXXI victory over New England. Reid previously coached at Brigham Young (1982), San Francisco State ( 83-85) Northern Arizona ( 86), Texas-El Paso ( 87-88) and Missouri ( 89-91). Reid was an offensive tackle and guard on three BYU Cougar Holiday Bowl teams. Reid graduated with a bachelor s degree in physical education. He also received a master s degree in professional leadership in physical education and athletics. Born March 19, 1958 in Los Angeles, Calif. Reid and his wife Tammy have five children Britt, Crosby, Drew Ann, Spencer, and the late Garrett as well as two grandsons and three granddaughters. Lewis vs. Chiefs: Lewis leads in regular season, 6-2. The Chiefs lead in preseason, 1-0. Lewis vs. Reid: Lewis leads in regular season, 3-0-1 2-0-1 from Reid s tenure at Philadelphia, and 1-0-0 from Reid s tenure at Kansas City. The Lewis-Reid series is tied in preseason, 1-1, with both games from Reid s tenure at Philadelphia. Reid vs. Bengals: In regular season, the Bengals lead, 3-1-1 2-1-1 from Reid s tenure at Philadelphia, and 1-0-0 from Reid s tenure at Kansas City. Reid leads in preseason, 2-1 1-1 from his tenure at Philadelphia, and 1-0 from his tenure at Kansas City. 10-yard line let s go play defense. Hold them to three. I m paid to keep them off the scoreboard. Also of note regarding the defense: With their effort in last season s finale vs. Baltimore, the Bengals also rose into the top 10 in defensive red-zone TD percentage. They held the Ravens to one TD in four chances and closed in seventh place in the NFL, allowing TDs on only 51.0 percent of opponent chances (25 of 49). Cincinnati finished with 17 interceptions last season, just one off the NFL lead shared by Baltimore, Kansas City and San Diego. The Bengals were among four teams with 17. Dalton rising: After last year s season-finale win over Baltimore, in which QB Andy Dalton posted a 101.2 passer rating his eighth over 100 on the season Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis concluded that Dalton had produced the best overall season of his seven-year career. Undoubtedly, Dalton played under some adverse conditions in 2016, including being sacked as many times (41) as he was during the 14 and 15 seasons combined. He had to form connections with two new WRs veteran Brandon LaFell and rookie Tyler Boyd and his top two regular targets (WR A.J. Green and TE Tyler Eifert) were fully healthy together for only two games. Dalton, though never one to brag, said: I definitely feel like I did take some steps forward. With some new guys and a new coordinator (Ken Zampese), I felt like I was able to get everybody on the same page and get everybody moving. Obviously, I want to keep getting better, and I m going to take this offseason to look at what I was able to do and the areas I can keep improving. I definitely felt like there were things I did better this year than I ve done at any time in my career. Dalton s 91.8 passer rating for 2016 was better than his career rating (now at 89.1), and his career rating is itself a Bengals record, more than two points ahead of the second-place mark of 86.9 posted by Carson Palmer between 2004-10. The Bengals were 6-2 in the eight games last season in which Dalton topped the 100 mark in passer rating. He now has 36 career games with a 100-plus rating, and Cincinnati stands 31-5 (.861) in his triple-digit efforts. Record game of keep-away: Andy Dalton threw all 563 Bengals passes in 2016, and his interception total of eight constituted a team record for

(Record game of keep-away, continued) fewest INTs in a season. The previous team low of nine INTs was set three times, including twice in 16-game seasons. Those two were in 1997, with Jeff Blake throwing seven INTs and Boomer Esiason two, and in 2015, with Dalton throwing seven and AJ McCarron two. Dalton had streaks in 16 of 165 and 147 attempts without an INT. The streak of 165 was the longest by a Bengal since 2005 (Carson Palmer, 169). Dalton s interception percentage of 1.4 for 2016 is his career-best, topping 1.8 in 15. Dalton s mark of seven INTs in 15 stands as his personal career low, but he threw only 386 passes that season, missing time with a thumb fracture. The 16 season s 563 passes were the second-most of his career. Hogging the ball: A season after a thumb fracture ended his year prematurely, Andy Dalton in 2016 became the third player in Bengals history to throw all of his team s passes in a season. Previous Bengals to do it were Jon Kitna in 2003 and Carson Palmer in 07. Dalton was one of three QBs to throw every pass for his team. The others were Eli Manning of the N.Y. Giants and Matt Stafford of Detroit. The Bengals record for most players throwing a pass in a season is seven, set in 1985. The multiple effort included three QBs (Boomer Esiason, Turk Schonert, Ken Anderson), along with four players throwing one pass each. Those four were RB James Brooks, WR Steve Kreider, WR Cris Collinsworth and P Pat McInally. An eighth Bengal WR Eddie Brown also appears in the 1985 passing statistics, but Brown was sacked on his one attempt. Dalton adds a No. 2 to his No. 1: A big lead and resulting conservative second half in last season s finale vs. Baltimore may have caused QB Andy Dalton to fall just short of breaking his own Bengals single-season passing yardage record. Cincinnati got off to a big early lead (20-3 at halftime) in the Jan. 1 game, causing Dalton and the Bengals offense to go into ball-control mode in the second half. Dalton ended up finishing with only 226 passing yards in the game, 88 short of the 314 he needed to break his own Bengals record for passing yards in a season. Dalton closed the year with 4206 yards, second-most in franchise history behind the 4293 he logged in 2013. The most passing yards by a Bengal other than Dalton has been 4131, by Carson Palmer in 2007. Dalton second to go six-for-3000: A season passing total of 3000 yards is not in itself a stupendous NFL feat. Twenty-five passers reached it in 2016. But hitting 3000 in the first six seasons of an NFL career, which Andy Dalton reached last year in Game 11, Nov. 27 at Baltimore, still is an event worth noting. The only QB to do it before Dalton was Peyton Manning. The cinch Hall of Famer is beyond compare in this realm, as he reeled off 13 straight 3000-yarders before missing the 2011 season due to injury. Carolina s Cam Newton ended up joining the same club a few weeks later last season, passing the 3000 mark on Dec. 19 at Washington, and he finished the season at 3509 yards. Newton was chosen first overall in the same 2011 draft in which the Bengals claimed Dalton at No. 35. Dalton finished the 2016 season with 4206 yards. Dalton chasing Kenny in TDs: Andy Dalton scored four touchdowns in 2016 and now has 19 for his career. His total is just one short of the franchise record for touchdowns by a QB, held at 20 by Ken Anderson, who played 16 Bengals seasons (1971-86). Dalton is in his seventh season. All of Anderson s 20 TDs were rushing scores. Dalton has 18 rushing TDs, and he has 19 total by virtue of being the only Bengals QB ever to catch a touchdown pass. He scored on an 18-yard gadget connection from WR Mohamed Sanu vs. Tennessee in 2014. The next-most TDs by a Bengals QB is 10, by Jeff Blake. Dalton and Jack Thompson share the Bengals season record for touchdowns by a QB, at five. Dalton had five in 2014, tying the record first set by Thompson in 1979. Off on another streak: Andy Dalton started every game last season and threw every Bengals pass. And though he came off an injuryshortened 2015, he still rates as a durable performer. Prior to his thumb fracture in Game 13 of 2015, he had not missed a regular-season or postseason start for the Bengals, covering 81 games. And the fracture occurred during unusual duty, 4 as he made a solo tackle on Pittsburgh DE Stephon Tuitt after an INT. On that play I was the hitter, not the hittee, Dalton said. As far as when I have the ball, I think it s knowing how to take a hit and when not to take a hit. That s part of it. I ve been fortunate. Dalton opened his career with 77 consecutive regular-season starts, a Bengals record for quarterbacks at any point during a career. The previous mark had been 61, posted by Boomer Esiason from 1985-89. Dalton s streak ranks third in NFL history for the start of a career by a QB, trailing only Peyton Manning of Indianapolis (208) and Joe Flacco of Baltimore (122). An Andy roundup: Other records and other notable accomplishments in QB Andy Dalton s career include: He is one of only three QBs in the Super Bowl era to lead a team to postseason in each of his first five campaigns. Dalton did that from 2011-15, while Baltimore s Joe Flacco did it from 08-12 and Seattle s Russell Wilson has done it from 12-16. Dalton has posted 36 career games with a passer rating of 100 or more, and the Bengals are 31-5 (.861) in those contests. Dalton s.613 winning percentage as a starter (56-35-2 regular season) ranks seventh among active QBs with 50 or more starts. Ahead of Dalton are Tom Brady (.779), Russell Wilson (.706), Ben Roethlisberger (.672), Aaron Rodgers (.667), Andrew Luck (.614) and Tony Romo (.614). Dalton s.613 winning percentage also is the best of any Bengals QB with 10 or more starts. Dalton holds club season records for passing yards (4293) and TD passes (33), both set in 2013. Dalton in 16 passed the 20,000 mark in career passing yards (22,214). He ll need just 480 yards in 2017 to pass Carson Palmer (22,694) into third place all-time on the Bengals, behind Ken Anderson (32,838 over 16 seasons) and Jeff Blake (27,149 over six seasons). His career 16.7-to-1 ratio of TD passes to INTs (100-6) in the red zone ranks sixth among active NFL passers. He is the only Bengals passer to throw for 300-plus yards in four consecutive games (2013). Dalton passed for exactly 366 yards on both Games 1 and 2 of 2016, becoming the first Bengal to hit 366 or higher in consecutive games. Geno does it again: In 2016, for the fourth time in his seven-year Bengals career, DT Geno Atkins was at least a co-holder of the NFL season lead for sacks by an interior lineman. Atkins claimed the honor outright in 16, with nine sacks. DT Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams was second with eight, and no other interior linemen had more than seven. Atkins also was the outright winner in 2012, when he had a career-best 12.5 sacks. He tied for the league lead in 2011 (7.5 sacks) and 2015 (11). Atkins has 52 career sacks, most by a Bengals interior lineman and fifth overall. Also in 16, Atkins led the Bengals in tackles for losses (13), and total QB hits (26). Big-play John: Rookie WR John Ross has gained plenty of notoriety for his record-setting 4.22-second 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine, but his college numbers indicate that his speed translates to the football field as well. Over Ross four years at Washington (one of which was completely lost to injury), the speedster totaled five scoring plays of 90 yards or longer. And while NFL defenses are considered far superior to those at the college level, it s still worth noting that the Bengals as a team over the last 10 seasons (2007-16) have only two scoring plays of 90 yards or longer a 100-yard kickoff return TD by Glenn Holt at Buffalo in 07, and a 96-yard kickoff return TD by Bernard Scott at Pittsburgh in 09. Current CB Adam Jones also had a 97-yard kickoff return vs. Carolina in 2014, but he was tackled just short of the end zone. (John s) dynamic speed shows up on tape, says head coach Marvin Lewis. When teams are playing against him, they feel it when he touches the ball. Boyd shines on third down: Bengals second-year WR Tyler Boyd looks to keep his momentum going in 2017, after a strong start to his Bengals career in 2016. Boyd finished last season with 54 catches for 603 yards, the most in each category by a Bengals rookie since the incomparable A.J. Green in 2011. But where Boyd especially made his mark was on third downs. He ended the season with 22 receptions on third down, the most of any 2016 NFL rookie. WR Sterling Shepard of the N.Y. Giants was second at 21. Boyd finished seven short of the overall league lead, posted by Baltimore TE Dennis Pitta at 29. The top figure among all NFL WRs was 28, shared by three wideouts.

(Boyd shines on third down, continued) In third-down catches that produced first downs, Boyd and Shepard tied for the lead among rookies, at 16. Boyd performed under unusual pressure last season to contribute immediately. The Bengals No. 3 spot was wide open as 2016 began, due to veteran free agent departures, and Boyd was clearly among the club s designees to fill the spot, even though he was the youngest player on the team. He saw increased action the last seven games, due to a hamstring injury that sidelined Green, and now in his second year and with a full offseason under his belt, his role figures to grow even more. Obviously we saw a lot in Tyler, as a second-round draft choice, but he was even better than we had reason to expect, says head coach Marvin Lewis. He s a young guy (will turn 23 on Nov. 15), but he was in tune all year with what we were doing. I feel like I practiced hard, and worked hard in the classroom, and that it paid off, Boyd says. I didn t just bring my skills in here and think it would all fall into place without the effort. I just tried to increase my performance with every game. I didn t do it every week, but that was my goal. LaFell producing like a pro: Returning to the Bengals this season after a productive 2016 is eighth-year WR Brandon LaFell, who re-signed with the team on March 9. LaFell played in all 16 games last season for the Bengals and amply filled the role of a veteran to play in the base offense along with flagship pass-catcher A.J. Green. And for the last seven games, with Green injured, he filled the role of the No. 1 wideout. For the season, LaFell had 64 catches and 862 receiving yards, ranked second on the team behind Green in both categories. His catch total was his second-highest for a season, behind only the 74 he caught for New England s 2014 Super Bowl champions. His yardage total was also his second-highest, behind only the 953 he logged with New England in 14. LaFell s six TDs (all receiving) ranked second on the team and first among receivers. In Game 15, Dec. 24 at Houston last year, LaFell had six catches for a personal season-high of 130 yards, including an 86-yard TD in the fourth quarter on which he outran Houston s secondary for nearly 80 yards after taking a short pass from Andy Dalton. The 86-yard reception was the second-longest in LaFell s career. He had a 91-yarder for a TD as a second-year man with Carolina in 2011. Thanks to LaFell s fast feet, it proved to be the longest completion in QB Andy Dalton s career, topping an 84-yarder to WR Jerome Simpson in Dalton s rookie year of 2011. It was the longest Bengals pass play in more than 20 years, since an 88- yarder from Jeff Blake to Darnay Scott in 1995, and it was the team s longest gain of any kind in the 16 season, including kick returns. That guy is the ultimate pro, Green said of LaFell, and he s been a good veteran (seventh-year pro) for me to learn from. I haven t really had that in my first five years here, at least not to the extent he s been able to provide it. He s played well everywhere he s been, and he s been big for us. The guy has played a lot of wide receiver at a very high level, and for a long time by NFL standards, says Bengals wide receivers coach James Urban. He s tough. He s big (6-3, 210) and he s physical. Vontaze impresses the analysts: LB Vontaze Burfict was inactive for the 2016 season s last two games, due to a concussion and a knee injury he suffered in Game 14 vs. Pittsburgh. The missed games, his fourth and fifth of the year, helped cost Burfict the team tackles lead he had held during Weeks 13-15. But despite playing in only 11 games, he finished second on the team at 101 tackles, trailing only LB Karlos Dansby (114), who played in every game. And in December, network TV analysts gave Burfict his due as one of the best linebacker talents in the NFL today. On Dec. 4, while working the Bengals-Eagles game as the FOX network analyst, Charles Davis said, There simply cannot be an NFL middle linebacker playing at a higher level right now than Vontaze Burfict. And on Dec. 11, Steve Tasker, the former Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl special teamer, offered this while working the Bengals-Browns game for CBS: Vontaze Burfict is a monster. Nobody in the NFL at inside linebacker is playing as well as he is right now. The base coin of Burfict s realm is tackles. He led the team by wide margins in his only two previous seasons (2012-13) of playing more than 10 games. In 2015 he played only 10 games but finished third in total tackles while leading the team in tackles-per-games-played. And in 16, he again led the team in tacklesper-games-played (9.2). Burfict s top overall outing last season came in the Dec. 4 win over 5 Philadelphia. He punished the Eagles with 15 tackles, most by a Bengal in any game on the year, but his real headline effort was in the passing game. He had two interceptions against Carson Wentz, the first multi-int game by a Bengal since S Reggie Nelson in Game 7 of 2015 and his own first game with more than one. He had one return of 47 yards. And beyond the two INTs, he had two additional passes defensed. His total of four PDs tied for the team high for the season. Burfict missed the season s first three games, due to an NFL suspension from a 2015 playing rules violation. In 15, he missed the first six games due to injury rehab. In 14, he was limited by injuries (including concussions) to five games. The key for him, quite obviously, is to stay healthy, and though the 16 season ended with the two missed games, the 11-game run he had after returning from the suspension lends hope for 2017. Vontaze is a rare talent, said head coach Marvin Lewis. He not only finds the ball himself, his instincts and his innate knowledge of the game are an extension of the coaching staff on the field. Bengals president Mike Brown has also been emphatic in his praise of Burfict. Vontaze is one hell of a football player, Brown said, and we expect more outstanding play from him. He s a difference-maker. We re lucky to have him. Dunlap s PD frenzy unprecedented: In the first 40 seasons (1976-2015) in which Bengals defensive statistics were recorded, no defensive lineman ever led the team in passes defensed for a season. None were even close, really. But it happened in 2016, and it wasn t close. DE Carlos Dunlap had five more PDs 15 than anyone else on the team last season. And he had seven more PDs than any other NFL defensive lineman. The players ahead of Dunlap in the NFL were all cornerbacks, led at 24 by Brent Grimes of Miami. The next-highest total by an NFL D-lineman was eight, by DE Jason Pierre- Paul of the Giants. The next-highest total by a Bengal was 10, by CB Dre Kirkpatrick. Carlos has those long, long arms, says defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, and of course he gets good pressure. So I m not surprised he s one of the best we ve had in that area. Passes defensed include interceptions as well as passes broken up. When a player makes an INT, he also is credited with a PD. Dunlap had no INTs in 16, and in the category of passes broken up without counting INTs, only four players were ahead of Dunlap, led by Grimes at 20. The NFL has no team or league statistics to offer in terms of most PDs ever by a D-lineman or highest league ranking ever by a D-lineman in passes defensed, because the statistic has been officially compiled league-wide only for a few years. Dunlap the playmaker: Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap filled up the defensive stat sheets last season, and as a result, he earned his second career trip to the Pro Bowl. Dunlap piled up eight sacks on the year, which ranked second on the team behind fellow Pro Bowler Geno Atkins, and led the Bengals in passes defensed (15) and forced fumbles (three). No other Bengal had more than one forced fumble. He also ranked second in QB hits (23) and third in tackles for losses (seven). In tackles, he led the D-line with 49. Three of Dunlap s deflected passes were corralled by Bengals LBs for interceptions Vincent Rey on Oct. 23 vs. Cleveland, Rey Maualuga on Nov. 27 at Baltimore and Vontaze Burfict on Dec. 4 vs. Philadelphia. Dunlap now has 57 sacks for his career, ranked fourth all-time on the Bengals and closing in on the third-place player, DE Ross Browner at 59. With continued play at the level he s shown he can produce, Dunlap could wind up as the franchise s all-time sacks leader. He has averaged 8.1 sacks over his seven seasons. All-time Bengals sacks leader Eddie Edwards (83.5) averaged seven sacks over 12 seasons (1977-88), second-place Reggie Williams (62.5) averaged 4.5 sacks over 14 seasons (1976-89), and third-place Browner (59) averaged 6.6 over nine campaigns (1978-86). In 2015, Dunlap had 13.5 sacks, second-most in Bengals history. Besides his 57 sacks, his career totals include 15 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, 41 passes defensed, four blocked FGs and two TDs scored. Carlos brings us a lot, and he needs to keep bringing it for us, said defensive coordinator Paul Guenther. The key thing for Carlos is that he s an athlete, and a very big athlete. He s explosive and he just makes plays. He has also developed into a mature guy and a team leader. Dunlap executed a sack-and-strip in consecutive games early in the 2016 campaign, with the Bengals recovering the loose ball each time. He did it in Game 4 vs. Miami (Ryan Tannehill) and Game 5 at Dallas (Dak Prescott).

(Bengals notes, continued) A.J. stalled just short of big step: On the second offensive snap of Game 10, Nov. 20 vs. Buffalo last season, Bengals star WR A.J. Green went to the turf with a hamstring injury. He did not return to the game and ended up missing the remainder of the season (inactive for Games 11-15, and was placed on the Reserve/Injured list prior to Game 16). As a result of his missed time, Green fell just short of joining Randy Moss as the only players in NFL history to have 1000 or more receiving yards in each of their first six seasons. At the time of his injury, Green had 964 yards with seven games still to play. Green had said he hoped to play in the season finale vs. Baltimore, and had said that joining Moss in the six-by-1000 club was meaningful. But he accepted the team s decision that playing him in a game with no playoff implications presented an inordinate risk of a more serious injury that could affect his 2017 season. It was a little disappointing, Green said. I wasn t happy (with the decision) at the time. But now I look back. Is 30 yards really going to matter if I pull it again and need surgery and don t get back 100 percent in time? I don t think so. In his first five Bengals seasons (2011-15), Green had receiving yards totals of 1057, 1350, 1426, 1041 and 1297. In 2016, through his healthy nine games, he was on pace to post a Bengals-record 1714 yards, blowing away the mark of 1460 by Chad Johnson in 2007. But Moss remains the only player to hit 1000 in each of his first six seasons, doing it for Minnesota from 1998-2003. Moss failed to extend his streak to seven, limited to 737 yards with the Vikings in 2004. Green s injury also derailed his pursuit of the Bengals record for receptions in a season. With his 66 catches through Game 9 at the N.Y. Giants, he was on pace to finish 16 games with 117. That would have topped T.J. Houshmandzadeh s record 112 from 2007. Prior to his injury, Green also stood a good chance of breaking Johnson s Bengals career record for 100-yard receiving games (31). But with 28, Green s pursuit of the record was put on hold until 2017. Green has played only six seasons, compared to Johnson s 10. The Bengals record for 100-yard receiving games in a season is six, set by Green in 2013. Green was over 150 yards in three of his four 100-yard games in 16. He was 12-for-180 in the season opener at the N.Y. Jets, 10-for-173 in Game 4 vs. Miami, eight-for-169 in Game 7 vs. Cleveland and nine-for-121 in Game 8 vs. Washington in London. His 12 catches against the Jets tied his career high. Despite his injury, Green last year was voted for a sixth trip to the Pro Bowl, though he did not play due to the injury. He has joined OT Anthony Munoz, WR Chad Johnson and CB Lemar Parrish as the only Bengals to hit six. Hall of Famer Munoz made a club-record 11 Pro Bowls in 13 seasons, Johnson made six in 10 seasons and Parrish made six in eight seasons. Andy makes the call on No. 18: Though A.J. Green s 2016 season was derailed by a hamstring injury suffered in Game 10, Green clearly has done his time as one of the most promising young WRs in Bengals history. He s the best receiver in the league, QB Andy Dalton said after last season s game vs. Washington, setting a new declarative high in the praise-for- Green category. There s nobody out there like A.J. A 2011 Bengals first-round draft choice (fourth overall), Green turned 29 in July. He has a number of prime years still ahead and is a very serious threat to Chad Johnson s once seemingly unapproachable Bengals all-time leads in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs. Green, who now has 481 receptions and 7135 yards, said last year that he thinks he can play at least 12 seasons. Though Detroit superstar WR Calvin Johnson announced his retirement after the 2015 season after a nine-year career, Green doesn t see a parallel. Calvin s a big guy, Green said. His body took a lot of pounding. I feel like I m more of a slim guy (at 6-4 and 210). My knees don t have that much wear and tear. Calvin used to take big hits, cheap shots. The way he hit the ground all the time, that s a big body at 230 (pounds) slamming down. I think my body is set up differently. Green s averages of catches and receiving yards per season took a hit in 16, with him seeing significant action in only nine games due to the injury. Those averages are now at 80.2 catches and 1189 yards. But if one extrapolates those averages to 12 years (Green s forecast for his longevity), it s Chad Johnson who becomes outpaced by a Bengals country mile. After season 12, Green would have 962 catches (211 more than Johnson s 751) and 14,268 yards (3485 more than Johnson s 10,783). One could say Green won t produce at those levels forever, especially not in 6 seasons 11 and 12. But even if Green played just 10 seasons at the pace of his first six full seasons, he d top Johnson by 51 catches (802) and by 1139 yards (11,890). In all-time receiving TDs, Chad Johnson leads the Bengals with 66. Green already has 49. He has averaged 8.2 TDs for his six seasons, which projects to 82 after 10 seasons. Green is under contract with the Bengals for at least three more seasons, through 2019. A.J. passes Ike into second: A.J. Green began last season as likely to take three steps up the Bengals all-time receiving yards ladder, moving into second place. And as of mid-november, that process was complete. His 68 yards against the Giants in Game 10, Nov. 14 the last game in which he caught a pass on the season, due to a hamstring injury pushed his career total to 7135. He moved ahead of Isaac Curtis (7101) into the No. 2 spot. Still far ahead in the No. 1 spot is Chad Johnson (10,783). Green needs 3649 more yards to pass him. But Green apparently has many more years to play, and moving to the No. 1 spot is a feat that projects to possible passage no later than 2019, possibly in 18. Green s contract runs through 19. Green in 16 played his sixth season. Johnson took 10 seasons (2001-10) to post his 10,783 total. Green started 2016 in fifth place in Bengals receiving yards, with 6171. He moved into fourth in Game 6 at New England, passing Cris Collinsworth (6698 in eight seasons), and he took third place in Game 7 vs. Cleveland, passing Carl Pickens (6887 in eight seasons). In all-time Bengals receptions, Green started the season in sixth place, but he s now at No. 4. He has 481 catches and has blown by Curtis (416) and Collinsworth (417). Green needs just 27 catches to pass third-place T.J. Houshmandzadeh (507). He s 50 short of Pickens (530) for second place. Green is still 270 catches behind the first-place Chad Johnson (751), another goal that projects to possible passage in 2018 or 19. Curtis played 12 seasons, Johnson 10, and Collinsworth and Houshmandzadeh eight. Green and some gold jackets: Though a hamstring injury cost him all but two plays of last year s final seven games, A.J. Green finished his sixth season with nine career games with at least 150 receiving yards and a touchdown catch. The only players to have more such games in their first six seasons were Hall of Famers Lance Alworth (13) and Jerry Rice (11), and prime HOF candidate Randy Moss (10). Also, Green s nine games with at least 150 last year were tied with Steve Smith, Sr. of Baltimore, but Smith retired after the 16 season. Dalton and Green make six-year history: WR A.J. Green and QB Andy Dalton were the Bengals first two draft selections in 2011, and their first six seasons produced quite the ride. Per Elias Sports Bureau, they stand as the most productive QB-WR duo in NFL history for players each in their first six seasons. Their 461 completions and 6753 yards are most by any duo, and their 44 TD connections rank second to Miami s duo of QB Dan Marino and WR Mark Clayton (53 TDs from 1983-88). Only A.J.: Cincinnati s A.J. Green had his 2016 season cut short by a hamstring injury, which in turn halted his bid for a sixth-straight 1000-yard season to start his career (he finished with 964). Green did, however, still manage a sixth nomination to the Pro Bowl. While 2016 marked the first time in his stellar career that Green did not accomplish both of those feats, he still stands as the only NFL receiver since the 1970 merger to start his career with five consecutive 1000-yard seasons (averaging more than 1200 yards) and five trips to the Pro Bowl. The last passcatcher to start his career with five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances was Hall of Fame TE Mike Ditka (1961-65). Erickson coming off KOR crown in AFC: Bengals WR Alex Erickson posted a 27.9-yard kickoff return average in his rookie 2016 season (on 29 attempts), leading the AFC and ranking second in the NFL. He trailed only Cordarrelle Patterson of Minnesota (31.7). The second-place AFC qualifier was former Bengal Brandon Tate of Buffalo, more than five yards perattempt behind Erickson at 22.8. Erickson s 27.9 goes down as the second-best average in Bengals history, behind only the 31.3 posted by CB Adam Jones in 2014. Jones figure led the NFL, giving the Bengals their first-ever NFL KOR title. Erickson is the third Bengal to lead the AFC, joining Jones and DB Tremain Mack (27.1 in 1999).