Frank Victores/Associated Press
CINCINNATI — Andy Dalton returned from his three-week exile on Sunday and got a long-awaited win for the coach who benched him, throwing a touchdown pass during a 22-6 victory over the Jets that ended the longest losing streak in Cincinnati Bengals history.
The Bengals (1-11) had lost 13 in a row since the end of last season, with the newcomer Zac Taylor waiting until December to get his first head coaching win. Taylor benched Dalton after the eighth loss, deciding to see whether Ryan Finley fit into the team’s long-term plans.
With the rookie struggling and the season careening toward 0-16, Taylor reversed course and went back to Dalton, who made the difference in front of the smallest crowd in Paul Brown Stadium history.