Comparing Andy Dalton to Carson Palmer reveals Cincinnati coup

Bengals QB Andy Dalton holds the advantage over predecessor Carson Palmer in completion percentage and yards per attempt while throwing for more touchdowns. (AP)

Andy Dalton and Carson Palmer will be forever linked in Cincinnati Bengals history.

They never played together, but in Cincinnati, they will forever be compared. The great news for Marvin Lewis, President Mike Brown and the entire Bengals organization is not only do Dalton's numbers compare favorably with Palmer's current output in Oakland, they live in the same conversation as his prime Pro Bowl years in Cincinnati.

Dalton was drafted the same offseason Palmer demanded to be traded. The beginning of the Palmer demise became evident in the year leading up to his eventual trade to the Raiders. Dalton entered and created a seamless transition, leading the Bengals to the playoffs last season and off to a 5-5 start this year.

Comparing Palmer to Dalton shows how well the Bengals made out in a deal that also landed them the 17th overall pick in the 2012 draft (CB Dre Kirkpatrick) and Oakland's second-round selection this year.

Here's a look at how Dalton compares to Palmer this season:

• Dalton: 22 of 34 for 256 yards, completing 64.2 percent of his passes. He's averaging 7.44 yards per attempt and two touchdowns per 1.1 interceptions. His rating is 92.7.

• Palmer: 25 of 42 for 304 yards, completing 60.7 percent of his passes. He's averaging 7.31 yards per attempt with 1.7 touchdowns per 1.1 interceptions. His rating is 85.8.

If you are scoring at home, that means Dalton holds the advantage in completion percentage and yards per attempt while throwing for more touchdowns and with the same number of interceptions plus a better passer-rating.

The sophomore QB appears to have turned a corner over the last three weeks -- he's thrown seven touchdowns to one interception and an average of 290 yards. Four time this year, he's posted a passer-rating of 110 or better. How many times has Palmer done that? Zero.

Dalton's current pace would put him in the same category as Palmer's best years with the Bengals.

• Stat: Dalton pace/Palmer's best -- How many of six seasons better

• Yards: 4,094/4,131 -- Two ('05/'07)

• Completion percentage: 64.2/67.8 (2005) -- Two ('05/'07)

• Yards per pass: 7.44/7.76 (2006) -- Two ('05/'06)

• Touchdowns: 32/32 -- Zero

• Interceptions: 18/12 -- Three ('05/'06/'09)

Toss in the belief that the Bengals are still scratching the surface with Dalton's development and there's little to dislike in the front office about the direction the team took at its most important position the day Palmer demanded a trade.

Follow Paul Dehner Jr. for Bengals updates on Twitter at @CBSBengals.