CINCINNATI -- After the Cincinnati Bengals' first preseason game in 2011, it was readily apparent their long-term plans were on offense.

Clearly, they had designs of making their first- and second-round draft picks the bedrock of the organization for years to come.

As much as Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green's four-year contract extension was about him and about the way he can best position himself financially as his career progresses past his rookie deal, it also had to do with his quarterback and draft-class compatriot, Andy Dalton.

Green's deal will keep him in Bengals stripes through 2019. That's one year shy of the 2020 culmination of Dalton's near-$100 million deal that was reached last August. Sure, the structure of Dalton's deal permits the Bengals to release the quarterback without a cap hit after this season, but people throughout the organization believe Dalton's play will be strong enough these next few seasons that he will ride out the length of his contract.

It's not a coincidence that Green and Dalton's contracts end around the same time. It's also no coincidence the team had Dalton comment on Green's signing in the news release that followed.

"A.J. makes all of us better," Dalton said. "As a quarterback, you can put up a contested ball for him that you might not put up for everybody. We're focused right now on 2015, but this is great to know for the long run."

The Bengals want to keep the foundation of their offense intact as long as possible. It's a foundation that first formed on the field Aug. 12, 2011, when the Bengals faced the Lions in their preseason opener. That was the night the Bengals began turning the page on their upset veteran quarterback, Carson Palmer.

With Palmer holding out and avoiding Paul Brown Stadium until he was traded that October, Dalton had been given the reins to the Bengals' offense. It was clear even before he went 11-for-15 with four passes caught by Green that Dalton was going to start being the team's field general, and that Green was going to be the lieutenant who caught passes from him.

But the Bengals didn't want Green to simply catch passes. They wanted him to make clutch receptions in key games, too; something he actually hasn't done yet on the playoff stage.

In four postseason appearances, Green has just 13 catches for 161 yards and no touchdowns. The Bengals have lost all four of those wild-card playoff games, contributing to the franchise's postseason wins drought that extends back to 1991.

Although Green has struggled on the playoff stage, Friday's deal was the organization's way of telling him it believes he can fix those issues. It was also the team's way of saying it knew he was among the likes of Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant and Julio Jones -- superstar receivers who received similar contract extensions in July and August.

"Everyone in football and people who follow football know that A.J. is a special talent," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "He makes plays that you wouldn't think could be made."

With a quarterback who has a well-documented and wide passing radius, it's important to keep around a receiver who can make those types of plays.

As the Bengals try taking another step in their evolution of being a true playoff contender, they had to take care of their foundation.

Now it's time for their passing tandem to win.