CINCINNATI -- Before turning our full attention to free agency, the draft and the 2015 season, let's take one last look back at 2014.

We're doing that all this week through this position-by-position review of the Cincinnati Bengals' recent 10-5-1 campaign that ended with a wild-card round loss at Indianapolis.

We begin with the quarterbacks:

2014 cap value: $10.9 million total -- Andy Dalton ($9.1 million), Jason Campbell ($1.5 million), AJ McCarron ($369,060)

Highlights: Unlike the other positions we'll break down here in the next few days, the quarterback post was primarily operated by one player all season: Dalton. As he has been throughout his career, the fourth-year starter was inconsistent. We'll get to more of those inconsistencies below. Among the high points of Dalton's season were his first three games. Dalton, who signed a six-year contract extension worth up to $115 million last August, began the season as the only starting quarterback in the NFL to go three weeks without being sacked. He also had only one interception in those games.

In addition to his 3-0 beginning, Dalton had three-straight key wins in November when he went on the road in consecutive weeks to beat New Orleans, Houston and Tampa Bay. He threw a season-high three touchdown passes in the win over the Saints, and dedicated to his father his 233-yard performance against the Texans a half hour from his hometown.

Lowlights: For many, the moment that will most resonate regarding Dalton was the performance he had in a Thursday night loss to the Browns. In front of a sold-out Paul Brown Stadium, Dalton threw a first-drive interception that set the tone for arguably the most abysmal game of his career. It was one of four first-quarter interceptions Dalton had this past season, and it was one of two that came on the Bengals' first possession of a game. He also had another pass intercepted on the first play of the second series of a game. In all, Dalton had 17 interceptions, three shy of the career-high he set last season. That night against the Browns, Dalton compiled a 2.0 passer rating; the lowest mark for a quarterback in a single game in more than 30 years.

Play of the year: As poorly as Dalton played at times, he had his share of head-turning moments. The most memorable was one that may never be repeated. After having just crossed into red zone territory in their Week 3 game against Tennessee, Dalton took a snap before pitching it to receiver Mohamed Sanu and then sprinting in the opposite direction. Sanu started running to his right after getting the pitch, but then abruptly stopped, turned and delivered a high arcing pass across the field to Dalton. A Titans' cornerback, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, had a chance to destroy Dalton as he caught the pass. He didn't, though. Instead, Dalton caught the ball, avoided the corner and dove for the pylon for a 17-yard touchdown reception.

Necessary improvements: Decision-making is first and foremost what Dalton needs to focus on improving. Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson told ESPN.com earlier this offseason that his film review of the season showed that nine of the 17 interceptions were the result of making poor choices. Jackson wasn't pleased by the overall high number of turnovers the offense had, and he wants his quarterback to do a better job of controlling what he can in that area. Otherwise, Dalton is in a great position to succeed. He has one of the more respected offensive lines in the league, a deep stable of running backs and will be getting back a strong group of pass-catchers that will include A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Sanu and Tyler Eifert.