Bengals Most Valuable Player Award Versus Buccaneers

When a victory is had but only 14 points are scored, it becomes a difficult task to name a player to the Most Valuable Player award list. Sure, defensive players could be listed, but only a few members of the defense had major impacts on Sunday as well. What am I trying to say? Sunday afternoon in South Florida was an odd one.

Nevertheless, we're going to give this weekly feature another shot here. Don't be expecting us to break custom and add coaches to the mix, as this one is strictly for the players--I suppose that is what "other" is for, right? Cast your vote and sound off on your winner for the Bengals Week 13 Most Valuable Player!

Andy Dalton, QB: The first half was mostly atrocious by No. 14 with the exception of a drive toward the end of the second quarter where he ran it in for a score himself. Some sort of magical concoction must have been given to Dalton at halftime, as he was far more crisp and threw his only touchdown after that point. It was an overall unimpressive stat line with three interceptions and just 176 yards passing, but Dalton did have the team's two lone touchdowns on the afternoon.

A.J. Green, WR: It wasn't the best of afternoons for Green, but he still did enough to help propel the team over the top. The biggie was a nice 13-yard catch in traffic for a touchdown that ended up being the game-winning score. Green finished with four catches for 57 yards and the third quarter touchdown.

Terence Newman, CB: One of the most frustrating things that occurs in any organized sport has to be when a teammate makes a huge tide-turning play and another segment of the team squanders the opportunity. Such was the case with Newman's interception right before the half, taking a possibility of points away from the Buccaneers and setting his offense up at the Tampa Bay 40-yard line. Unfortunately, Dalton threw a subsequent interception, but it still doesn't take away from Newman's afternoon. He had five tackles, the interception and was part of a secondary that limited Mike Evans to 49 yards receiving and Vincent Jackson to just 24 in the air.

Carlos Dunlap, DE: Effort, effort, and more effort. That's what No. 96 gives this defense and it showed up again on Sunday. He was the team's co-leader in total tackles with seven, had a batted ball and a half-sack. He teamed up with Geno Atkins in the fourth quarter to bring Josh McCown to the ground and it forced a field goal opportunity instead of a go-ahead touchdown try.