Soldier Field erupted Sunday in a way unseen since a loaded-defense and special teams unit (Devin Hester, mostly) that may well be the best unit in the past decade, stormed into the Super Bowl in 2006. It was a sight for the sorest of eyes.
When Cutler lead perhaps the most improbable drive of his career since coming to Chicago – ultimately concluding with a perfect back-shoulder-fade to Martellus Bennett who crashed into the end-zone with just ten seconds remaining – the little boy in me was ready to scream towards the heavens a quote that Chicago natives have applied to four different major-market sport franchises: this is our year. But is it?
Much like the Bears Super Bowl run in 2006, it’s important to remember in the NFL it’s not how you start but how you finish. Eli Manning has made a career out of this mantra alone (see 2008 New York Giants Wikipedia page). After a 31-30 win Sunday against division foe Minnesota, the Bears have beaten (albeit narrowly) two 2012 Playoff teams and are just one of eight NFL teams to begin the season 2-0. This is the first time Chicago’s remained unblemished after Week 2 since 2010.
Chicago cannot claim to be notoriously fast-starters, but they are proficient at collapsing. Since 2011, they have unraveled over the last 5 games of the season – with 1-4 and 2-3 records to show alongside the gut-wrenching anxiety that Chicagoans know simply as January. As exciting as Hester’s kickoff-return was to open Super Bowl XLI:
Lovie Smith would be the first to attest the vitality of a strong finish over the promise of an enthusing start.
To clarify, Bears fans should be ecstatic. However, a rational fan is wise – and anyone can pin the lack of a run-game as a concern. Matt Forte has accrued just 140yds on 38car’s thus far (3.7ypc) – with just 1td. This is problematic. All roads lead through the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, who are all inside the top 18 in the latest NFL Power Rankings. This is problematic.
The good news is, Green Bay has the 30th best passing defense in the league and if the 49ers can handle them, the Bears can…try? Chicago hasn’t beaten Green Bay since Sep. 27, 2010 and have gone 1-6 in that same frame.
Cutler is a wildcard. Every team he has ever played for has known so. He can make plays like this:
But he can also make passes like this:
Cutler has shown serious improvement in leadership, which was clearly evident when his team ran the one-minute offense to perfection against Minnesota Sunday, but his timing and care for the ball will be tested often this year with games against Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Baltimore, and Dallas remaining. Cutler just always strikes me as the guy at the party who’s clearly unenthused with any/all forms of entertainment, the one who mooches the vodka all whilst never displaying any means of sympathy or excitement. The good news is Brandon Marshall appears to be the man at parties, who has put himself in a position to make the Pro-Bowl this year.
If the Bears win on Sunday against Pittsburgh underneath the primetime lights, we might have something brewing. Until then, we can enjoy this week’s satisfaction and pray that the Bears – under new head coach Marc Trestman – have found something different in this Canadian Kool-Aid, and can jump a three-year hurdle into the Playoffs.