The Cincinnati Bengals lost their starting quarterback Sunday, but according to their backup, they’ll be in very good hands going forward.
Bengals starter Andy Dalton fractured his right thumb in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers and didn’t return. According to early reports, his injury could be a season-ender.
That left Cincinnati’s quarterbacking duties to backup AJ McCarron, and while he failed to rally his team in the Bengals’ 33-20 loss, the Alabama product was confident enough in his abilities after the game to compare himself to a certain New England Patriots quarterback.
“You’ve got to embrace it,” McCarron told reporters, via ProFootballTalk. “I love it. You gotta love pressure moments. That’s what makes you great. That’s when the great ones really shine.
“I guess Tom Brady was in the same situation when he had the opportunity, so I gotta make the most of it.”
We all know the story with Brady, who took over for Drew Bledsoe early in the 2001 season and led the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships over the next four seasons. McCarron had plenty of success in college, winning three BCS national championships in four seasons with the Crimson Tide, and you need confidence to survive as a quarterback in the NFL. Still, that’s a pretty bold claim.
McCarron, who threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions Sunday, inherits a 10-3 Bengals team that owns the AFC’s No. 3 playoff seed. He’ll face at least one tough test down the stretch, as Cincinnati travels to Denver in Week 16 to take on the Broncos.
The Bengals will play the 4-9 San Francisco 49ers next weekend.
Thumbnail photo via David Kohl/USA TODAY Sports Images
