Jay Cutler among NFL’s elite heading into week 4, despite setbacks

Chicago Bears fans, it is Green Bay Packers week. Sunday at noon, the greatest rivalry in the history of the NFL will yet again tally another matchup. Heading into week four, the Bears are coming off of a primetime win against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football and ready to look to extend that win streak to three games.

Though it is early, the MVP of the Bears, without a doubt, has been quarterback Jay Cutler. Through three weeks, he is among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. Cutler ranks in the top 10 among several categories. He is 2nd in touchdown passes (8), 3rd in completions (80), 9th in quarterback rating (98.2), and 10th in yards (750). He has also led the Bears to the 9th-best offense in the league, averaging 25.0 points per game through three weeks — I’m betting that number only goes up from here.

What is most impressive through three weeks, is that Cutler is doing this with a banged up offensive group. Two of his starting offensive linemen have been out for the past two games — center Roberto Garza and guard Matt Slauson. Not to mention, a couple of guys by the name of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery have had pains and aches of their own. Surprisingly, both receivers have given it a ‘go’ despite being hurt. The Bears’ third wideout, 6-foot-3 Marquess Wilson, hasn’t even played a down yet and is out a few more weeks with a collarbone injury.

Imagine how much better Cutler will look when his offensive line is intact once again and he has his big wide receivers at 100 percent health. Considering what he has dealt with in terms of personnel and injuries, thus far, Cutler has been a completely different quarterback.

Now that the former Vanderbilt stud has an offensive-minded coach in Marc Trestman, Cutler seems to be finally coming into his own. What the Bears did under Trestman a year ago was remarkable but, remember, that was just Trestman’s first season with the team. Considering improvement is imperative, the Bears’ offense can and should only get better from here on out.

Through three games, and particularly the last two, Cutler has done a few things in particular that have impressed me. First of all, he has stared down Marshall far less than normal. A year ago, Cutler would direct all of his attention on any given play toward Marshall, no matter what the defense would give him. Understanding they have quite the chemistry, Cutler would refuse to look elsewhere at times; he’d have his mind made up before he even took the snap.

Now, Cutler understands that he has weapons beyond just Marshall. Across from Marshall, there’s yet another Pro Bowl wideout in Jeffery. Aside from even Jeffery, Cutler has utilized tight end Martellus Bennett a heck of a lot more through three games. Bennett has started this season hot, with 20 receptions for 161 yards and four touchdowns already. Cutler and Bennett have looked quite comfortable in the red zone, and I wouldn’t doubt that Bennett catches 10 or more touchdowns in 2014.

An incredibly underrated part of Cutler’s game this year has been his decision-making. The Cutler of past years would force a few throws when he could have just taken a sack. He’s been sacked seven times this year, but many of those came on plays where Cutler could have forced a throw, but instead he made the wiser decision and took the loss while keeping the ball. This area will prove to be vital late in games when he gives his team an extra chance to move the chains, rather than potentially tossing an interception that could cost him the game.

In week four, Cutler will have the job of beating a team in which he has not beaten often. Cutler is 1-9 all-time against the Packers. I am sure fans are anxious for somewhat of a ‘revenge’ game against Green Bay, which knocked Chicago out of the playoff race in week 17 a year ago. As it has been on many occasions, if this game is a close one, Cutler will have to be the guy to win it in the end. After watching Green Bay go 1-2 and look fairly mediocre in the first three weeks, I am sure they will come out guns blazing.

The good news for Chicago, is that Cutler has been money in the fourth quarter thus far. His fourth quarter QBR through three weeks is 85.5. If this one does come down to the wire, Cutler is in great shape to take a victory in week four.

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