Wins matter more than anything

By Ashley Fox

ESPN.com

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It is the only statistic that ultimately matters. Andy Dalton has it, and Cam Newton doesn't: wins. Dalton has seven. Newton has three.

For me, that closes the case. If the voting were today, Dalton would be my pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year because he has been able to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to a 7-4 record. Newton has been remarkable, with those two 400-yard passing games out of the gate, his 3,093 passing yards and his sick playmaking ability, but he has won only three games. Carolina is playing for pride, while Cincinnati is pushing toward the playoffs.

In the NFL, quarterbacks get way too much credit for wins and way too much blame for losses. That is just how it is, even though this is a team sport.

But who could have imagined in August that Dalton, a second-round pick out of TCU, would step in as the starting quarterback of the Bengals, with zero offseason, and have them a game behind Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the AFC North with five to play? This is a franchise so historically dysfunctional that Carson Palmer decided he would rather stay home in California than play for it anymore.

Dalton wanted to play from jump, and he has. He has been poised, confident and steady. He is a diligent worker who constantly watches tape. And although his numbers have not been as off-the-chart as Newton's, Dalton has been solid, completing 60.1 percent of his passes for 2,509 yards, with 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Dalton has not panicked when faced with adversity. Sunday against Cleveland, the Bengals trailed 17-7 at halftime. Dalton led them back. On the winning drive, he lofted a perfect pass to fellow rookie A.J. Green where only Green could get it and make a play to the Browns' 2-yard line.

It was the Bengals' third comeback when trailing by at least 10 points at halftime this season, tying an NFL record. Cincinnati almost had another one against Baltimore a week earlier, when Dalton rallied the Bengals from a 31-14 deficit with 10 straight points before falling short.

After that game, John Harbaugh said that the Ravens would have to learn how to deal with Dalton. It was the ultimate compliment. Dalton is going to be a factor, and because of his success this season, he should be the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Ashley Fox covers the NFL for ESPN.com.