With 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton scrambled out of the pocket while keeping his hawk-like eyes downfield. As James Harrison converged, Dalton unleashes the football targeting the left upright where wide receiver A.J. Green patrolled. As the football approached, Green jumped through two defenders scoring the team's first touchdown. It was the fifth time that Andy Dalton and A.J. Green hooked up this year.
And according to the NFL, they're closing in on a record that's 40 years old.
The record for most touchdowns between a rookie quarterback and wide receiver combination is nine, held by New England quarterback Jim Plunkett and wide receiver Randy Vataha during the 1971 season. Following them are Tim Couch and Kevin Johnson with eight in 1999 with the Cleveland Browns and Tony Banks and Eddie Kennison with the St. Louis Rams in 1996.
QUARTERBACK-RECEIVER DUOS |
TEAM |
YEAR |
TOUCHDOWNS |
Jim Plunkett-Randy Vataha |
New England Patriots |
1971 |
9 |
Tim Couch-Kevin Johnson |
Cleveland Browns |
1999 |
8 |
Tony Banks-Eddie Kennison |
St. Louis Rams |
1996 |
7 |
Andy Dalton-A.J. Green |
Cincinnati Bengals |
2011 |
5* |
Jay Cutler-Tony Scheffler |
Denver Broncos |
2006 |
4 |
Phil Simms-Earnest Gray |
New York Giants |
1979 |
4 |
Jack Trudeau-Bill Brooks |
Indianapolis Colts |
1986 |
4 |
*Through nine games