Nobody will mistake Andy Dalton for Peyton Manning, but the numbers say that the two quarterbacks began their careers in a very similar manner.

Through the first three years of his NFL career, the Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller's numbers are eerily similar to the ones Manning put up in his first three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

Manning—the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft—put up better individual numbers, but Dalton—the No. 35 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft—has led his team to slightly more success.

As close as those numbers are, it's important to note that the NFL has changed a great deal since Manning entered the league. Dalton is playing in a much more passer-friendly league, so passing numbers are significantly higher than they were back in Manning's early seasons.

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