In what was perhaps his finest all-around game, certainly as a Chicago Bear, Jay Cutler played what approached a perfect game. Statistically. Leadership-wise. Coordination-wise with coordinator Adam Gase. Win-wise.
“He continues to kind of amaze me with what we are doing and how hard he works out,” said coach John Fox. “Obviously, we are all evaluated by how we execute on Sunday. It is up there as one of our better games as a team.”
Cutler completed 19 of 24 passes for 258 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions, all for a passer rating of 151.0. He was the epitome of consistency, completing 12 of 15 in the first half, seven of nine in the second, and even threw in a 26-yard scramble as his contribution to the Bears’ 153 rushing yards.
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And it was not simply his own execution. The overarching element to Cutler’s game in the 37-13 win over the St. Louis Rams was his making teammates better with his play and his leading.
“Being around him, this is the most comfortable I’ve seen him, the most fun I’ve seen him have,” said tight end Zach Miller. “He’s on the money, playing great football, stepping up and being a leader, and having fun.”
Cutler had Jeffery and Wilson in single coverage in the Rams end zone on consecutive snaps in the first quarter but was late getting the ball to Wilson, who did Cutler no favors with a soft break out of his route that failed to create any separation.
But outside of those, Cutler’s execution was crisp on precision-based plays, with screen passes and pitch outs put in proper position for Jeremy Langford to take balls in rhythm and stay in stride, key against a defense with speed and closing ability.
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Cutler turned in the longest run of the game when he took off through a gaping hole in the middle of the Rams pass rush and covered 26 yards before opting to slide down rather than risk a tackle from behind.
“I don’t feel like I did that much,” Cutler said. “I think the offensive line did a great job controlling the ball in the second half. I think some guys on the outside made some plays. Against a front like that and a secondary like that, very rarely are you going to get some ‘chunk’ plays like that.
“I think they had only given up a couple [plays] past 25 yards all year long. You’ve got to give guys [receivers] on the outside credit; they didn’t back down. Up front, we knew it was going to be a physical game against a really talented team.”
Moon's Grade: A+