Entering the 2015 season, Andy Dalton has the opportunity to join Baltimore Ravens’ Joe Flacco as the only quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era to lead their teams to the postseason in each of their first five seasons. Unlike Flacco, Dalton has been unable to win a playoff game since entering the league in 2011. Despite the lack of playoff success, the Cincinnati Bengals have a quarterback that is fully capable of winning games and returning them to the playoffs.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection is on the hot seat entering the 2015 season due to inconsistencies in prime time games. There have been many speculations about the possibility that second year quarterback A.J. McCarron may surpass Dalton as the starter if the struggles continue in 2015. Regardless of the pressure to try McCarron as the starter, Dalton’s position is secure come the start of the season.

Dalton performed well a year ago considering the lack of talent surrounding him due to an abundant amount of injuries on the offense. Although “The Red Rifle” did struggle at times in 2014, Dalton still recorded a career high completion percentage of 64%. A year earlier, he was selected to his first Pro-Bowl appearance after totaling career highs in passing yards (4,293) and touchdowns (33).

The Bengals awarded Dalton with a $97 million contract last August that will keep him with the team through the 2020 season. The contract is essentially a year-to-year deal and the Bengals have the option to opt out at any time following the 2015 season.

Dalton is surrounded by a high profile offense with passing targets that were absent due to injury in 2014. Red zone threat wide receiver Marvin Jones missed the entire season a year ago due to a foot injury while tight end Tyler Eifert returns from an elbow injury that kept him sidelined most of the year. The two have returned injury to join AJ Green and Mohamed Sanu in the passing game.

The Bengals have also made new additions to the passing game by signing former Oakland Raiders receiver Denarius Moore as well as drafting a pair of pass catching tight ends and a receiver in this year’s draft.

Dalton is set up for a make-or-break season as the future at quarterback of the Bengals. The Bengals will attempt to return to the postseason for a franchise-record fifth consecutive year in 2015, and it is in the hands of Dalton as their franchise quarterback to bring them there.

Dan Miller is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RealDANimal45, or add him to your network on Google.