Nothing like a big game to bring Wilber's Way back from a near year-long hiatus! This one is for all the marbles.
As much as the return of Aaron Rodgers to the Packers lineup Sunday seems to have pumped Green Bay fans with confidence, the key to the game lies with No. 6 Jay Cutler. Yes, Rodgers has flippped the point spread from three points in favor of the Bears to 4.5 points for the Packers, but everyone knows if Cutler has a good game, the Bears will have a shot in this NFC North title game.
His numbers against the Packers are not anything to get excited about. Since joining the Bears he's 1-7 against Green Bay during the regular season since joining the Bears in 2009. As Michael C. Wright writes on ESPN Chicago Cutler has completed 55.3 percent of his passes against the Packers for 1,702 yards with nine touchdowns and 16 interceptions. That adds up to a 61.5 quarterback rating. Comparitively against the rest of the NFC North, the Santa Claus, Indiana native has thrown for 33 touchdowns and 16 interceptions during that span.
So why would a Bears fan have confidence in Cutler? Well, just as he said, he has not played against the Packers with this offense and this coaching staff. Marc Trestman pumped Josh McCown up enough that he was able to lead this Bears team to a 27-20 win on November 4 with 442 yards of offense.
It was the first time the Bears beat the Packers since the 2010 season. Yes, there was no Aaron Rodgers, but what the Bears offense was able to do that night at Lambeau Field has shown itself over and over this season, albeit with a backup quarterback.
Cutler said in his press conference at Halas Hall earlier this week, this game was not personal and it was not about just him and "it would take everyone on the team" for the Bears to win this game and he is right. He is going to need help if the Bears are going to win this game and make the playoffs, but he still holds the key to the outcome.
"He is in a new offense, with new coaches all around him. And I think that's probably the direction and what he was thinking," Trestman said of Cutler's comments.
According to Football Reference, Cutler is having his best year since his Denver days in terms of completion percentage (63.1), yards per game (239.5), passer rating (88.1) and the ESPN equivalent, QBR (63.81).
Last week, he had a touchdown and an interception that was returned for a touchdown, but didn't play bad in the lopsided loss. One would be more apt to look back to the Cleveland game in Week 15 for a truer gauge of where Cutler is in his progression within this offense. Trestman has been dubbed the "Quarterback Whisperer" and has turned things around for McCown. The Bears and their fans have to hope he has his QB's ear this week to put his demons to rest in this game.
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