Andy Dalton is basically Peyton Manning, Jr. Or something. (USATSI)

When you think of Peyton Manning -- even the FIESTY 2014 version -- you think of an all-time great signal callers, a legend in the pocket, gigantic, red forehead marks and the word elite. Andy Dalton? Not so much minus the redhead part anyway.

But turns out, as NBC noted on Sunday night when Dalton's Bengals played the Cardinals, the two have remarkably similar numbers through three years in the NFL.

Dalton and Peyton Manning's numbers in the first 3 years of their careers are remarkably similar #SNF pic.twitter.com/1bqeM8B314 — SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) August 25, 2014

Now none of this means Dalton will go on to become the next Manning. It's much easier to throw touchdown passes in this day and age and the Bengals certainly offer a better opportunity for success than Manning's Colts.

But it also points to the fact that Dalton is an undervalued property in the NFL. He gets ripped for never winning a playoff game and for having great weapons and a great defense. But the guy has put up some good numbers his first three years.