Jay Cutler Is The Best Quarterback In Bears History

That's right.  You heard me.  Jay Cutler is the best quarterback in Bears history.  This really more on an indictment on Bears quarterbacks than an unworldly achievement by Cutler, but the point is, for reactionary Bears fans, Cutler is the best thing to happen to the Bears passing game since the 1940s.  After just two seasons he is already eighth on the franchise's passing yards list and seventh in passing touchdowns.  He has thrown as many touchdowns in two season as Jim Harbaugh threw in seven seasons.  Sid Luckman is the Bears most legendary quarterback, holding the franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns.  In Luckman's first season, 1939, there were ten teams in the NFL, in his last, 1950, there were thirteen.  In Luckman's best season, 1943, there were zero black players in the NFL and in 1947 he threw 31 interceptions in 12 games.  Cutler is 26 years old and has four years of NFL experience, but because he was knocked out of the NFC championship with an MCL sprain game people conveniently forget the abuse he took playing behind one of the NFL's worst offensive lines.  Not to mention quarterbacking the Bears to the NFC championship game despite said line.  People forgot him running over Seattle defenders just one week earlier.  Quit, yeah right.

I'm not going to spend much more time sticking up for Jay, I believe Steve Rosenbloom said it best, Cutler doesn’t care about his image, so why should you?  I also think Lovie Smith hit the nail on the head by telling the media they don't put players on the field that can't defend themselves.  I'd like to see some of these dopes blasting Cutler try to fend off Clay Matthews with out being able to firmly plant one of their legs.  Then we'll see who's tough.

There was plenty of legitimate disappointment regarding the Bears performance against Green Bay, much of it stemming from Cutler's pre-injury performance.  It was pretty disheartening to see third string quarterback Caleb Hanie put together more touchdown drives against Green Bay in about a one and a half quarters than Cutler did in two and a half games.  Here's a quick recap of the Bears post season exploits.

NFC Divisional Round:  Bears 35, Seahawks 24 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  On the Bears first offensive drive of the game they used play action on third and short, fooling Seattle safety Lawyer Milloy.  Tight end Greg Olsen went streaking by, Cutler hit him for a 58 yard touchdown and the rout was on.

Player of the game:  Cutler
The Bears quarterback completed 15 of 28 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.  He also rushed eight times for 43 yards and two scores, becoming the only player other than Otto Graham two throw and run for two scores in a playoff game.

NFC Championship Round:  Packers 21, Bears 14 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  After finally getting on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter and pulling to within 14-7 the Bears faced third and four from deep inside their own territory.  Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers brilliantly dialed up a zone blitz and when the inexperienced Hanie tried to get the ball to Matt Forte short over the middle he never saw B.J. Raji.  The Packers defensive tackle snared the pass and rumbled in to the end zone for an 18 yard score.  The Bears would get in to the end zone less than two minutes later and had the ball in Packers territory inside of the game's final two minutes with a chance to tie, but they would turn the ball over and Raji's score turned out to be the deciding points.

Player of the game:  Greg Jennings
The Packers wide out caught eight passes for 130 yards, including several key grabs that helped the Packers build their early lead.

Going forward it will be hard for the Bears to repeat their 2010-11 success.  The Bears were a very good, well rounded football team and at times very explosive, but they suffered few key injuries and caught their share of breaks along the way.  A bizarre rule saved their bacon in week one, in week eleven they faced Miami's third string quarterback, Detroit's in week thirteen and when they clinched the division in Minneapolis in week thirteen not only did they not face Adrian Peterson, but due to the Metrodome's collapsed roof they didn't have to play in the Vikings true home stadium.

With a possible owner lock out on the horizon, free agency is a relative unknown.  The Bears have 14 unrestricted free agents heading into the 2011 off season, most notably starters C Olin Kruetz, DT Anthony Adams, S Danieal Manning, LB Pisa Tinoisomoa, P Brad Maynard and special teams ace Corey Graham.  I'd like to see Kruetz, Adams and Manning return, but I could take or leave the rest.  I'd also like to see the Bears strengthen the guard position in free agency.  As far a the draft is concerned I'd like for the Bears to look for future starters at wide receiver, cornerback and offensive tackle in the early rounds and reserve linebackers and offensive and defensive tackles in the later rounds.

If you asked me at the beginning of season how I would feel if the Bears won the division and advanced to the NFC title game, I would say I would love it.  Safe to say, despite the disappointing ending, the Chicago Bears 2010-11 season was a great one.