The Bengals' first loss of the season, a 10–6 stunner at home vs. Houston, falls on Andy Dalton's shoulders, sure. But only insofar as that Dalton is part of an offense that absolutely tanked in the face of a spirited Texans defense.
Dalton had seemed to quiet most of his skeptics during the Bengals' 8-0 start, but all of the old narratives about him emerged again rapidly on Monday night against Houston. In front of a national TV audience, he turned in his worst game of the season—a terrible decision and throw downfield leading to an interception; several passes to the sideline sailing beyond where any receiver could have caught them.