Cutler deserves this entire box for last week's effort

It’s painful to say, but reality is reality: the Detroit Lions have more talent and depth than the Chicago Bears.  We already know that the Packers are deep as well (look no further than last year’s Super Bowl win despite a plethora of injuries), but this Sunday’s matchup against Minnesota is a winnable one.  Sure, Adrian Peterson will be on display, but in recent years, the NFL has shown that elite running backs don’t necessarily translate into elite teams.  Detroit’s depth got to the Bears, as it seemed they trotted out an endless supply of fresh defensive linemen in the second half, all of whom overmatched Chicago’s front line.

This week, however, if Jay Cutler can get a little protection (an enormous “IF”), the Bears have a fighting chance to score a few times down the field and hopefully prevent some of the big plays while on defense.  For starters, the recent demotion of both starting safeties should help, but it might also help to actually make an effort to tackle a receiver or a back rather than simply running alongside trying to punch the ball out for 30 yards.  When it works, great.  When it doesn’t, it causes more trouble than it’s worth.

Kudos should go to Jay Cutler for last week’s gritty effort in the face of constant silver and blue.  Scrambling for his life, Cutler managed to escape unharmed and mistake free, albeit with another loss.  Of course, this is no surprise, because as readers of this website are well aware, trading for Jay Cutler ensured that mediocrity was the future in Chicago for years to come with very little left in the way of player development.  Perhaps the guy paid like a #1 receiver who is actually a #3 receiver at best can return a kick or two and return the Bears to .500 for a week at least.

Martz

Well, at least Jay Cutler can’t blame his next offensive coordinator for his failings.  The Bears appeared to bend over backwards for Cutler, attempting to get an interview with his former QB coach Jeremy Bates, even though he had no experience as an NFL coordinator.  Then, they tried everyone else and failed to receive any interest until Mike Martz finally fell into Chicago’s lap.

Marinelli

I hate using phrases like “genius” or “mastermind” to describe professional coaches, because one is limited by the rules of the game and the talent on the field, but fans and talk shows hosts love to toss those words around when describing coaches like Martz.  The reality is that when his teams were talented (Rams), his record was good, and when his teams were not (Lions), his record was bad.  Thanks to a rumored dinner together, Jay Cutler and Mike Martz should be on the same page heading into the season.  From then on, it’s a crapshoot.  

As for the coaching behind Lovie, here’s a few of what the Bears are trotting out there:

• Rod Marinelli, after having led the Detroit Lions to a record setting 0-16 record two seasons ago, just before joining Chicago’s staff.
•  Mike Tice, former Vikings head coach who failed to maintain an air of discipline around a team best known for a boat party scandal.
• Mike Martz, successful head coach of the Rams and more recently the offensive coordinator for two miserable seasons with Marinelli’s Lions (including a 3-13 year in ’06) followed by a year in San Fran.

Tice

Guess who fired Martz from Detroit?  That’s right – Marinelli.  Then Rod followed it up with that 0-16 campaign, and now they all get to live happily ever after on Chicago’s staff.

Sigh.

Stay tuned to TJC for my not-so-expert prediction on the big game later next week.

AFC Championship

New York Jets @ Indianapolis Colts (-8)

Despite the 9-7 record, the Jets only lost by more than 8 points twice this year.  All of the numbers point to the Colts winning, but likely by less than a touchdown.  That’s not the way I see it though.  I see Peyton Manning punishing New York with a long tedious touchdown drive in the first quarter.  Playing from behind, Mark Sanchez will have to throw more and that will spell trouble for the Jets.  Besides the rookie Sanchez, the Jets don’t exactly boast the NFL’s best receivers.

New York might hang around, but look for the Colts to play mistake free while a costly turnover or two will make the game seem too long for New York fans.  In the end, Manning and the Colts will head to the Super Bowl with a double digit victory over the Jets.

TJC’s pick: Indianapolis (-8)

NFC Championship

Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans  Saints (-3.5)

For some reason, I’ve heard nothing but love for the Vikings from most analysts on ESPN  Radio over the past week.  Once again, I don’t see it that way.

Yes, I think that Minnesota’s offensive attack is impressive, and the defense can be dominant at times, but with all of the weapons New Orleans’ head coach Sean Payton has at his disposal, I don’t think the Vikings can contain Drew Brees over the course of an entire football game.

In what could be a shootout, home field advantage will come into play.  Adrian Peterson hasn’t topped 100 yards rushing since mid-November, and his yards/carry has been on the decline, so either he’s nursing an injury or is just a little worn down.  Either way, it’s going to make Favre throw plenty.  That hasn’t been a problem most of the season, but this time around, I see the Saints winning the turnover battle and subsequently the game.

The all important question is will the Saints cover the 3.5 points.  Yes, yes they will.  Payton’s schemes will befuddle the Vikes and New Orleans will put up a handful of TDs as they advance toward a matchup with the Colts in a couple weeks.

TJC’s pick: New Orleans (-3.5)

I didn’t even find his lone interception to be nearly as detrimental as Jon Gruden did.  Gruden is big on hyperbole, and he was all over Cutler for throwing that interception, but the truth is it was 3^rd and a ton, and Cutler let it fly about 30 yards.  You never want to get picked off, but if you’re going to give up an interception, that’s the time to do it.  If it’s simply incomplete, you’re punting anyway, and with a decent return the Vikings have the ball in the same place anyway.  Calm down, Chucky.

Not to be overlooked are the 4 touchdown passes.  Fans don’t expect 4 TDs every time out, but what was nice to see was the lack of mistakes in crunch time – no overthrowing, no underthrowing, etc.  The defense didn’t help the cause by utterly collapsing and giving up 30 second half points, and even the reliable Robbie Gould couldn’t help in OT, but the Bears did just enough to beat the Vikings and prevent Favre from winning his first game ever after falling behind by 17 points or more.

I give the Bears a heap more credit than the Colts this week.  In games that “don’t matter,” one team still tried to win while the other was content in basically suspending the competitive spirit of the game until the games “matter” again.  Using Indy’s logic, shouldn’t they just sit Manning in Week 1?  Sure a first week game won’t have a great effect on a team likely to make the playoffs, so why risk injury?

Maybe the Bears should have sat Cutler the past couple weeks once the chance at a playoff berth disappeared.  Why risk injury on a player considered to be the franchise in a season of lost hope?  Save him for next year when the records are wiped clean again.  Can you imagine an NFL where every coach only put out his best team when he felt a victory was relevant to the playoff picture?  The Lions’ starters wouldn’t have played a down for 2 years! 

What Indy coach Jim Caldwell did was embarrassing to the sport.  Never underestimate the need for consistency and timing when it comes to playing winning football.  The best way for healthy players to get better heading into the playoffs is to play, not sit on the bench.  Hopefully Caldwell’s mistake won’t cost them a Super Bowl.

No early picks means no rebuilding of the o-line through the draft, and good luck trying to acquire a good o-lineman in his prime through the free agent market. Basically, it’s going to be Jay Cutler and his “unlimited potential” throwing to guys wishing they were average. In case you haven’t noticed, Cutler historically hasn’t been able to get his teams to overachieve, so don’t look for that to happen anytime soon.

It’s time to reverse the screws on this deal. Hope that Cutler finishes the season strong and trade him away for some talent and/or picks. At this point, the Bears needs are many, and volume of solid players is a bigger need than one great player, particularly when that player isn’t actually great.

Trade Jay Cutler.