CHICAGO There are many myths myriad untruths about the Chicago Bears' controversial quarterback Jay Cutler.
Here's what I know about Cutler He is very very tough. He is very very smart. His hair contains multitudes. He can't beat the Green Bay Packers.
Just look at the numbers.
Facing his nemesis once again Cutler threw two costly second half picks on consecutive possessions that the Packers turned into touchdowns as the Bears dropped a squeaker 38 17 at Soldier Field.
Yes the NFC North still goes through Green Bay. The Bears will play there in a prime time game on Nov. 9.
Cutler is now 1 9 against Green Bay in his roller coaster Chicago career including that 2010 NFC Championship Game defeat. He's thrown 20 interceptions in those games.
EnlargeRun the spread blame formation all you want Cutler fans but turnovers and losses are connected.Yes the Bears' defense was putrid with no pass rush up front and no chance for the secondary to cover Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb.
It's not like Green Bay's defense was particularly good. It just took advantage of the Bears' mistakes.
The past two weeks the Bears' defense had been feeding off takeaways from sloppy quarterbacks and the offense had been turning those plays into points. Coming into the game the Bears had scored just three touchdowns on possessions that began with a kickoff and just one on a possession that began with a clean punt.
Smart observers knew that this defense depleted further with the absence of an ill Jared Allen would have its hands full with Aaron Rodgers. This wasn't going to be Geno Smith winging it around.
So that meant more pressure on Cutler to be perfect or close to it. Instead Cutler was Cutler a victim of circumstance as fortune smiled upon his opponent.
The game was close at the break 21 17 Green Bay after the Bears missed a last second touchdown by inches and perhaps a bad spot and the second half belonged to the better quarterback and the better team.
It was Rodgers who had told his rabid fan base to relax after a 1 2 start who was close to perfect. The Bears opened the game with a clock chewing 15 play 8 minute 30 second drive their longest of the season which culminated in a 6 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall.
Rodgers and the Packers needed just six plays and 2 22 to tie it with a 2 yard run by Eddie Lacy.
While the Bears finally achieved offensive balance with 235 rushing yards (122 on 23 carries for Matt Forte) and 256 passing yards Green Bay took advantage of Chicago turnovers and then just relied on its franchise quarterback to move the chains and win the game.
Anyone who still thinks Cutler is ready to pass Rodgers in the NFC North quarterback derby raise your hand.
Here's my expert take Rodgers is up here (reaches high) and Cutler is around here (waves hand around flabby midsection).
Rodgers went 22 of 28 for 302 yards and four touchdowns. Cutler went 22 of 34 for 256 yards two touchdowns and two picks. In the second half Rodgers went 9 of 11 with two touchdowns while Cutler went 7 of 13 with two interceptions.
Cutler's touchdowns came on wide open plays. Packers corner Davon House slipped on Marshall's touchdown and a brilliantly designed (stolen from St. Louis Cutler said) fake end around to Alshon Jeffery resulted in an easy 8 yard score for him.
You guys could have thrown that one in there Cutler said.
But the bad outweighed the good Sunday.
Were those picks Cutler's fault Depends on your point of view and definition of quarterback responsibility I suppose.
Cutler to his credit was mature and helpful in handling his media duties after the game. He explained the breakdowns and shouldered the blame.
Of Cutler's interceptions one was a blooper play a deflected pass by corner Tramon Williams intended for Josh Morgan that ricocheted in the air to Clay Matthews who took it back 40 yards to Chicago's 35 yard line. The other pick the one that looked really bad was a miscommunication between Cutler and Marshall.
Cutler on the first pick It's a slant. If he jumps it he jumps it. Most of the time in three deep he's not going to jump it.
Asked what he could do to prevent that kind of pick Cutler said Hope it doesn't fly in the air for 15 yards.
On the second pick Bears coach Marc Trestman said the play call was for Marshall to run an 18 yard hook but Marshall turned it into a go route i.e. he ran straight down the field. Cutler threw to the hook a country mile from where Marshall was at the time and Sam Shields was there to take advantage returning it for 62 yards to the Bears' 11 yard line.
Marshall who has been hobbled by a bum ankle declined to speak to reporters after the game.
He was upset Cutler said. A miscommunication on my part and his part. Sometimes miscommunications in this game can be pricy.
Speaking of pricy this past offseason Cutler signed a deal for $54 million in guaranteed money while Marshall was inked for about $22 million in guaranteed cash. That's Beat Green Bay money. They know that of course.
Regardless of the true blame dispensation it's up to Cutler to make things happen as he did in the previous two games road wins over San Francisco and the Jets.
Same thing with Rodgers. That's why franchise quarterbacks live like kings.
While Cutler faced the media the Bears' defense was effusive in its praise of Rodgers who adjusted play calls at the line and avoided pressure in the rare instances the Bears brought it.
I give credit to Aaron Rodgers Bears defensive tackle Stephen Paea said. He's not some scrub. He showed up.
It was certainly evident that Aaron Rodgers was at his best the Green Bay passing game was at its best Trestman said. We weren't able to get enough of a rush to hurt him enough. And when we did he got outside and made plays.
Even when we got him off his spot a few times he's still good Bears defensive end Willie Young said. He's Aaron Rodgers you know
We know. And Jay Cutler was Jay Cutler once again. Good enough to make you hopeful not good enough to beat Green Bay.
Recommend0 Tweet0 Email Subscribe Print Comments0Jon GreenbergColumnist ESPNChicago.comFollowArchive
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