If the city of Chicago wasn’t excited about the Jay Cutler era already, Saturday’s preseason performance against the Giants should do the trick.
One week after struggling in his Bears debut, Cutler led Chicago to scores on their first three drives. The numbers were great (8-of-13, 121 yards and a TD), but how Cutler achieved them was more impressive.
He rifled in a 27-yard pass between two defenders to Earl Bennett, just before taking a massive hit. He completed another throw on the run into a tight window, again to his collee teammate Bennett. Cutler made first downs with his legs, and he showed off his deep touch with a teardrop 39-yard completion to Devin Aromashodo.
The highlights are all available on NFL.com, and they show off his full arsenal of talents in a way that will make Denver fans ache and Chicago fans giddy.
Maybe too giddy.
Following Cutler’s performance, the Chicago Sun-Times has an article writing that Cutler is worth an Eli Manning-level contract. Another said it was Christmas in August, calling Cutler a “gift” that “seemed so confident and adept at the quarterback position that he really didn’t appear to be a Bear.”
Cutler’s big night even one-upped Kyle Orton’s rebound game. The two can settle their three-round preseason sparring match in Denver next Sunday night.