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Top Plays of 2014, No. 1: Andy Dalton touchdown reception

Since the Cincinnati Bengals have a bye week, we're presented with a little inaction and not much midseason material to review. We've revealed the first four, and now it's time for best play of the year. It's kind of a no-doubter.

Joe Robbins

There's really no setup or explanation needed at this point.

The Cincinnati Bengals had a 3-0 lead with six seconds remaining in the first quarter. Andy Dalton took the shotgun snap from the Titans 18-yard line and pitched to Mohamed Sanu, who was flanking Dalton's right (plus a yard behind him) at running back. Suddenly Sanu slowed up and white-knuckled the football.

Dalton, on the other hand, snuck around the backside for the pass. Sanu... perhaps against his better judgement, threw the pass and Dalton caught it.

Dalton1_medium

Dalton2_medium

It's the type of play that defines a season. It surely defined Cincinnati's blowout win against the Titans, with celebrations from players, coaches and fans. It wasn't just any celebration either... it felt like a celebration that belief conquered pessimism... and that's saying a lot in Cincinnati.

It should have been intercepted... it wasn't. Dalton should have been blown up... he wasn't. Instead, Cincinnati took a 10-0 lead and eventually claimed a 33-7 victory heading into their week four bye.