Andy Dalton is steal of 2011 draft, so far

Dalton's remarkable run

With a win over the Steelers on Sunday, the Bengals can tie the second-longest win win streak (six) in franchise history. Bet you never thought you’d hear that stat this season, especially with the Bengals handing the reins to rookie quarterback Andy Dalton after moving on from Carson Palmer.

But Dalton is proving to be one of the steals of the 2011 draft, as the second-round quarterback out of TCU has led Cincinnati to five straight wins and a share of the AFC North lead with the Ravens at 6-2. Nice way to shake off Same Old Bengals labels of previous teams.

“We’re not worried about what has happened in the past, or what happened the play before,” Dalton said. Dalton has improved each week, and is coming off a three-touchdown performance in a 24-17 road win over the Titans, as the Bengals rallied from a 17-7 halftime deficit. Dalton’s 12 touchdown passes are the most by a rookie in his team’s first eight games since the NFL merger in 1970. And he can become the first rookie quarterback with six straight wins since Vince Young did it with the Titans in 2006.

“We get down 17-7 at halftime this past week and no one flinches or worries,” Dalton said. “We’re just focused on the next play and trying to get out there and show our skills.”

They’ll need plenty of skills in this one. After all, the Steelers have won six of their last seven against the Bengals in Cincinnati.

Haynesworth begins again

Now on his third team in the last four months, Albert Haynesworth will attempt to resurrect his career again, this time with Tampa Bay. After being released by New England on Tuesday, the Bucs were the only team to put a claim in for Haynesworth. The Patriots acquired the mercurial defensive tackle in late July from the Redskins in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2013.

Haynesworth, who signed a $100-million, free-agent deal with the Redskins in 2009, chafed at switching to a 3-4 defense under Mike Shanahan and spent most of last season on the sidelineor the bench. He played only sparingly with the Patriots this season and was released two days after a 24-20 loss to the Giants, during which he was seen arguing with defensive line coach Pepper Johnson.

With Tampa Bay, he can be that disruptive force as a pass-rushing lineman. And he’ll get plenty of opportunity now that Gerald McCoy is out for the season with a biceps injury.

“I’m excited. This is where I should have been three years ago,” said Haynesworth, who was pursued by the Bucs before the Redskins signed him. “I think all good things come to somebody who waits.”

It’s all up to Haynesworth. If he tries — and that’s no sure thing — then there’s a chance. If he doesn’t work hard and resists instruction from his coaches, forget it.

Martz changes his stripes

Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz has gained a reputation as a pass-happy play-caller, especially during his days as offensive coordinator, then head coach of the St. Louis Rams. His Rams offense, dubbed “the Greatest Show on Turf,” featured Kurt Warner’s brilliant passing and included one Super Bowl championship and another Super Bowl appearance.

But Martz has started to go in a more conservative direction with the Bears. Quarterback Jay Cutler, who was sacked a career-high and league-leading 52 times last year, is enjoying the benefits. The latest evidence: In the Bears’ 30-24 win over the Eagles on Monday night, he wasn’t sacked a single time. That was only the second time during the Cutler-Martz era in Chicago that Cutler hadn’t been sacked. And this time, it was against an Eagles team that has one of the NFL’s most dangerous pass rushes.

Martz called 32 running plays and 30 passing plays against the Eagles; in the Bears’ previous seven games, Martz had called 232 passes and only 168 rushes.

“It’s so much more fun, just going out there and playing with those guys and being able to execute the offense and have some fun and be creative,” Cutler said. “That’s what it's all about.”

Howdy, neighbor

Before being traded to the Raiders last month, former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was living in Del Mar, Calif., a town just north of San Diego. His next-door neighbor: Chargers coach Norv Turner.

On Thursday, Palmer registered his first win for the Raiders against Turner's Chargers in San Diego.

"I was hitting up Norv for [Chargers] tickets at one point," Palmer said after the game. "Three, four weeks later, I'm here playing." And winning.

Quick hits

- Former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy in 2008, and Colt McCoy of Texas finished second. On Sunday, they meet one another as Bradford’s Rams visit McCoy’s Browns in Cleveland.

- The Chargers have now lost four straight to slip to 4-5. Philip Rivers is a mess. Norv Turner needs to turn things around or risk getting fired.

- In four road games this year, Texans QB Matt Schaub has eight TDs and only one INT. Houston is at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

- Stat to note: Since the start of the 2008 season, Lions receiver Calvin Johnson’s 40 TD catches is the most in the NFL.  

NFL ON TV

Sunday

1 p.m.: Bills at Cowboys, Ch. 2

Cardinals at Eagles, Ch. 5

4:15 p.m.: Giants at 49ers, Ch. 5

8:20 p.m.: Patriots at Jets, Ch. 4

Monday

8:30 p.m.: Vikings at Packers, ESPN