Heading into the final game of the 2015 NFL regular season, Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears was the only starting quarterback without a multi-interception game all year. That changed today vs. the Detroit Lions, as Cutler was picked off three times in a 24-20 loss. However, he can't be blamed entirely for the three-interception performance.
This isn't just another Cutler apologist article, although I have written some in the past. This year, Cutler proved to everyone what happens when he has a good offensive coordinator, and that he's matured as a player and person. The bad numbers today shouldn't deter anyone from saying otherwise.
If there was ever a case for not having enough talent around you, today was it. Obviously no Kevin White, Martellus Bennett or Alshon Jeffery, as all three were on IR at the start of today. His other two top targets, Eddie Royal and Zach Miller, were out of this game as well.
On top of all of those weapons being dearly missed, the offensive line played horrendously. Cutler had no time to throw all day long, and two of his three interceptions were results of the Lions' pass rush.
The first interception of the day, however, was not -- at least not directly.
Cutler and the Bears were driving and down inside the 10-yard-line. The pressure had gotten to him only a bit at that point, but OC Adam Gase wanted to get Cutler out into a moving pocket. So they called a play that had everyone running to his right, and Cutler lofted a pass into the back of the end zone for 6-foot-5 receiver Cameron Meredith. The young wideout leaped, but the ball went right through his hands and bounced off of the defender's helmet and into another defender's waiting arms. That can't all be placed on Cutler by any means. Alshon Jeffery, for instance, would have caught that pass.
The next two interceptions can most certainly be placed squarely on the offensive line -- and more specifically, left tackle Charles Leno.
Late in the second quarter, Cutler dropped back to pass, one play after hitting Marc Mariani for a 24-yard gain. Ezekiel Ansah beat Leno with ease and was able to pull on Cutler's shoulder just as he was about to release it. That obviously led to the ball coming out with almost nothing on it, and it was well short of where it was supposed to go -- ending in the arms of a waiting Lions linebacker.
Finally, the last interception came at the end of the fourth quarter when the Bears were trying to come back from a 24-20 deficit and win the game. Cutler had been phenomenal in the second half, completing his first 9-of-9 passes with two touchdowns mixed in.
Once again, though, it was Leno beaten by Ansah almost immediately. Cutler tried to step into a deep pass to Deonte Thompson, who had his man beat by a couple of steps. As Cutler was about ready to release once more, Ansah slammed into the side of Cutler and the pass fell well short of the mark, falling into the arms of safety Glover Quin Jr.
And that was the game.
Outside of those three passes, Cutler played brilliantly -- and those weren't even close to being all on him. He didn't make poor decisions today whatsoever, and is the same quarterback he's been all year. He still ended the day 17-of-23 for 245 yards and two touchdowns. It easily could've been four touchdowns if Meredith could catch a jump ball and Leno could hold a block for another half-second. This loss wasn't on him; as was the case for pretty much every loss this year.
At 6-10, the Bears did fans the favor of at least being competitive while doing so -- and beating the Packers. Jay Cutler was a huge part of that, and without him, we saw how pathetic this offense was against the Seattle Seahawks in a 26-0 beatdown. The Bears would've been 1-15, at best, this season without No. 6.
If GM Ryan Pace and HC John Fox play their cards right and everyone returns healthy for next season, this team could be a dangerous playoff contender, led by Jay Cutler -- the man Bears fans should feel confident in regardless of what happened today against the Lions.
