INDIANAPOLIS - Very ugly.And very familiar.It happens to Andy Dalton and the Bengals every year, which is why that incredible streak is now 24 years and counting since Cincinnatis most recent playoff win.The Bengals made NFL history on Sunday when they lost an opening-round playoff game for the fourth year in a row.Andrew Luck took apart their secondary, Dalton and the offence went nowhere in the second half, and the Bengals lost 26-10, extending their excruciating stretch of playoff futility.Its kind of like missing a field goal that you feel you should have hit, said kicker Mike Nugent, who set a Bengals record with a 57-yarder for one of their few bright spots.Actually, its more like slipping and falling without even getting the kick off.No matter what they accomplish during the season — and their four straight playoff appearances are a franchise record — they come unglued in the biggest games.In the big moments, the guys that are our big guys have to make the plays, left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. You see it every week. You look at the teams that win, their top guys make the plays that get them where theyve got to go. Itll be no different here. When we get in those situations, our big players have to make huge plays.Instead, they shrink.And it starts with the quarterback.Dalton and Baltimores Joe Flacco are the only quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era to lead their teams to the playoffs in each of their first four seasons. Flacco already has won a Super Bowl and has his team headed to New England next week after pulling out a win in Pittsburgh on Saturday.Dalton is headed home after another lopsided one-and-done.Youve got to play your best football once youre here, and today we didnt play our best, said Dalton, who was 18 of 35 for 155 yards with three sacks, a fumble and a passer rating of only 63.4.Dalton didnt make the type of costly turnover that doomed the Bengals in their previous three playoff losses. He didnt do much of anything noteworthy, showing theres a difference between him and the NFLs elite quarterbacks.Those other ones — such as Luck — make impressive plays under intense pressure. Luck was 31 of 44 for 376 yards with a touchdown and an impressive passer rating of 104 on Sunday.In his four playoff games, Dalton has completed only 56 per cent of his passes for 873 yards with 12 sacks, one touchdown, six interceptions, two fumbles and a passer rating of 57.8. Dalton is tied with Warren Moon for most consecutive opening-round playoff losses by a quarterback in NFL history, according to STATS.Dalton got a big contract extension before the season, so the Bengals are committed to him for at least the near future.I thought Andy played a good football game, so I dont know what kind of criticism will be on the quarterback here, coach Marvin Lewis said. I thought he hung in there.With Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham sidelined by a concussion and a sore back, respectively, Dalton was missing his top two receivers. The Bengals took a lot of tricks out of their playbook and stayed close for a half.In the second half, the smoke-and-mirrors stopped working. Cincinnati had the ball four times in the third quarter and punted four times, managing a net of only 9 yards on 13 plays while the Colts pulled away.The Bengals havent won a playoff game since the 1990 season, the sixth-longest streak of post-season futility in NFL history. Lewis fell to 0-6 in the playoffs, trying Jim Mora for most consecutive post-season losses to start a coaching career.Lewis also matched Mora, Marty Schottenheimer and Steve Owen for most consecutive coaching losses in the playoffs. Hes under contract through next season, and owner Mike Brown has called him a success for getting the team to the playoffs regularly, so no change is anticipated.I anticipate him being back, safety George Iloka said. I anticipate him getting us better. I anticipate him getting us over the hump.Notes: The Bengals are 0-7 on the road in the playoffs, in addition to losing their two Super Bowls against San Francisco. ... Cincinnati has lost its past eight games in Indianapolis. ... Green also missed a 27-0 loss at Indianapolis on Oct. 19 because of an injured right big toe. ... It was the second game that Gresham missed this season. ... Linebacker Rey Maualuga left with an injured hamstring early in the second quarter and didnt return. The Bengals already were missing linebacker Vontaze Burfict. ... Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick left with an injured right ankle.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Joe Perry Jersey . MacArthur scored two goals, and the Senators outlasted Detroit in a testy third period to beat the Red Wings 4-2 on Saturday night. Shaun Hill Jersey . Next up is another showdown with Michigan. Payne scored 18 points, Branden Dawson had 14 and No. 22 Michigan State beat No. 12 Wisconsin 83-75 on Saturday to reach the Big Ten tournament championship. http://www.custompatriotsjersey.com/custom-randy-moss-jersey-large-261f.html . -- The San Francisco 49ers have re-signed cornerback Perrish Cox to a one-year contract. Terrell Owens Jersey .com) - One point guard will return, while another will sit when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit American Airlines Center to take on the Dallas Mavericks. J. T. OSullivan Jersey . -- Even as Chris Paul remained evasive about his future, he did what team leaders are expected to do.It is only in Cup competition you can really call a win a disappointment. On a night heavily skewing in Toronto FCs favour, a 2-1 victory over a virtual Vancouver Whitecaps reserve team hardly flatters. The first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship was an opportunity for Toronto to take control of the tie. Mission failed. Vancouver Whitecaps manager Carl Robinson elected to rest his regulars looking ahead to Saturdays game against the Columbus Crew. Even with 29-year-old Nigel Reo-Coker in the lineup, the average age of the Whitecaps starting XI was 21.6, including 17-year-old Canadian goalkeeper Marco Carducci. It was a glimpse of the future for Vancouver. The kids were alright. Toronto FC was less convincing. Toronto, with the week off until the return leg next Wednesday in Vancouver, had the luxury to play a regular starting XI. With only two changes from last weekends loss to New England, Toronto FC began the night heavy favourites. Instead, heavy legs, heavy touches, and heavy lifting were needed to see the game out. The Whitecaps grew in confidence and the manager played his cards right. Robinson, seeing weakness in TFC and his team grow into the match brought on attacking players Kekuta Manneh and Sebastian Fernandez late, pushing for an away goal. Although Vancouver conceded in the 89th minute en route, they found the precious goal in time added on and head home next week as favourite to advance. Manneh scored the goal. Not the prettiest, but a timely and much needed strike in aggregate competition. Toronto FC substitute Dwayne De Rosario was lucky to stay on the field after landing a forearm to the face of the goal scorer amongst a pile of flailing arms as Vancouver tried to get the ball back to midfield as soon as possible. Manneh and De Rosario saw yellow before the game died out and the final whistle blew. The script never seems to be straightforward for Toronto FC. They have seldom been the dominant side in any match thus far this season. Team commitment, work rate and shape remain solid, but interplay, build up, and execution in the final third continue to be issues. It takes time for a team of new faces to come together. With the World Cup break rapidly approaching, time is ticking for the team to click. Here are my five thoughts from Toronto FCs 2-1 victory: 1) Two is not enough - Toronto FC dictated proceedings all night long, rendering Vancouver reliant on the counter-attack. The build-up remained consistent and decent until reaching the final third. In and around the opposing 18-yard box, the team remains a mess, with the exception of Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley. Good thing the big money players are coming through because the rest of the team needs to be much better in dangerous areas. The final ball is often erratic. And when the ball is on a platter, the finishing goes awry. There isnt just one culprit. They are too easily letting defenders off the hook. Its all sloppy, too direct and too easy to mark. Part of the issue is the team playing too narrow. Justin Morrow and Mark Bloom rarely get involved in the attack to overlap in to dangerous areas. The bulk of the attacking play comes down the middle, with even the outside midfielders coming far too inside. More than two goals should have been had against a team of inexperienced kids. Now Toronto has to go out west and get a result. The pressure will be on the Whitecaps to get a goal, which may put Toronto back in their comfort zone playing on the counter. 2) Oh, Gilberto - More of the good and bad on display by Gilberto. Hes not doing himself or the club any favours dispelling the notion he wasnt worth the club giving up Matias Laba. The ups and downs in his game are so pronounced he may as well be called Two-Face. For a player who predicted a 25-goal season, the polish in front of goal is simply not there.& Some nice interplay between Defoe and Issey Nakajima-Farran in the 21st minute broke Toronto FC free down the left flank.dddddddddddd The Canadian Internationals cross was on point, finding Gilberto wide open on the far post at the six-yard box. The Brazilian headed wide; a brutal miss by any standard. Its now been seven games without a goal for the striker. The good: the work rate remains a plus and glimpses of his ability surface from time to time. Gilberto dropped deep into space to gain possession and played a crafty ball behind the back line, springing Defoe on his goal. More of this kind of positive play will ease the critics. They will ultimately not be silenced until he starts scoring goals. Designated Players must be impactful. Thus far, the returns are subpar. With an injured Bright Dike and De Rosario struggling to find form, a productive Gilberto is essential for sustained team success. 3) Defoe does it again - Defoe looked much sharper in his second game back returning from a nagging hamstring injury. His quickness and superior movement was on full display in the win. Defoe was cool in front of goal, composed as ever beating Carducci for his 28th minute opener, his fourth wearing red. Defoe played provider on Bradleys 89th minute winner, drawing two defenders to him before playing a diagonal ball finding Bradley in space. Whenever he gets the ball in and around the box, he is a threat and has the ability to create on his own. Thats why its so important for the Englishman to be more involved. There were stretches in the game where he faded out of the match when Toronto FC was too sloppy in possession. He needs the ball played to his feet and his teammates to do better moving off the ball, finding space. Defoes touch is sublime and distribution is spot on. As long as Defoe stays fit, Toronto FC will remain a threat in every match they play. Hes far too dangerous. 4) Hail Cesar - Toronto FC goalkeeper Julio Cesar was named to the Brazilian squad for this summers World Cup in his home country. Cesars inclusion doesnt surprise with a resume second to none and showing good form since his arrival in Toronto. He has fit in with the team exceptionally well, on and off the field. Last years starting goalkeeper, Joe Bendik, will be called upon as stand-in upon Cesars World Cup absence. Bendik got his first start Wednesday and picked up where he left off last season with strong play. Bendik came to the rescue in the 44th minute, making a big save on Russell Teibert who found space inside the Toronto FC 18-yard box. It was instinctive stuff, with Bendik reading the play, coming off his line and staying big. Doneil Henry helped out Bendik seconds later, clearing Nicolas Mezquidas effort off the goalline. Bendik came up big again in the 75th minute with a pair of timely saves on Omar Saldado. The goal conceded was a mess with the defending all over the place. The blame hardly falls on the goalkeeper. There was enough on display Wednesday to alleviate any worry about a significant dip in goalkeeping when Cesar is gone. But theres no question who remains the number one. 5) Not your average Joe - Linesman Joe Fletcher manned the west-side touchline for the match. Much bigger games lay ahead for the Niagara Falls native in the not-so distant future. The 37-year old will be running the touchline at this summers World Cup, just over a month away. The assistant referee will link up with an American duo to form one of the 25 officiating crews in Brazil. The last Canadian official to participate at a World Cup was Hector Vergara who was part of the 2002, 2006, and 2010 competitions. Wishing Joe the best of luck and safe travels this summer. Next up for Toronto FC is the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal tie in Vancouver against the Whitecaps, Wednesday May 14 at BC Place. ' ' '