CINCINNATI -- Andy Dalton was joking with his wide receivers this past week about who was going to catch a touchdown pass first against Tennessee, him or one of them? Las Vegas would have given some pretty good odds on the wide receivers for that prop bet.
Vegas would've lost.
Dalton caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Mohamed Sanu on the final play of the first quarter of the Bengals' 33-7 rout of the Titans Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. Sanu lined up in the backfield and took a lateral toss to the right. He took a couple of steps before turning back to his left and throwing for Dalton, who had slipped out into the flat.
Tennessee cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson read the play perfectly. The Titans, said head coach Ken Whisenhunt, had actually practiced against that play during the week. Wreh-Wilson's execution in covering it resembled anything but perfection.
Wreh-Wilson appeared to be caught between a decision of going for an interception and going for a hit on Dalton. He came up with neither. Dalton caught the floating pass at the line of scrimmage and raced for the far pylon. He dove and beat Tennessee safety Michael Griffin, who was the only other defender in the area.
"It didn't look like that in practice," said Dalton. "Usually the corner was folding over and there wasn't anybody else out there. I thought I was going to catch it and just get hit. That obviously didn't happen. I don't know how the guy played it but he hit me when I was in the air. I was able to get into the end zone."
The play gave the Bengals a 10-0 lead.
"I saw the quarterback come out, and it was just kind of one of those (plays)," said Wreh-Wilson. "The ball was there, he was there, and I should have hit him. I didn't know, or think of, where to hit him, how to hit him. But I've got to make that play."
Sanu completed a pass for the second straight week and is now 4-for-4 in his career for 166 yards and two touchdowns. That translates into a perfect passer rating of 158.3.
"I didn't see the safety at first and once I release it I saw him flash between the line and I was like 'Oh Lord'," said Sanu. "When (Dalton) went up and made a play I thanked God because I was scared for a second but he made an unbelievable play and made it into the end zone."
Sitting behind Sanu in the locker room, Dalton pronounced he had "the best hands on the team."
"He does have some of the best hands on the team. I'm not going to lie," said Sanu, who had five catches for 44 yards playing his normal position. "
Dalton is the fifth quarterback in Bengals history to catch a pass in a game but just the second one with a reception from another player. Sam Wyche (Nov. 3, 1968 vs. Houston), David Klingler (Sept. 18, 1994 vs. New England) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (Oct. 12, 2008 at New York Jets) all caught passes they threw but had been batted back or up in the air by defenders. Akili Smith caught a 6-yard pass from wide receiver Carl Pickens on Oct. 31, 1999 against Jacksonville.
Dalton did catch one pass in college at Texas Christian University. It was his freshman season in a game against Utah. Trailing 10-7 in the second quarter, Dalton caught a pass from wide receiver Jeremy Kerley and gained 27 yards down to the Utah 1-yard line.
"It was a similar situation," said Dalton. "I tried to dive for the touchdown at the end, but they called me down at the one. I still think I scored."
There was no question of him scoring on Sunday.
