Cutler Embarasses Broncos in Denver

The game’s over. Can you shut up about it now? As the most exciting and drama-filled preseason game I can remember, Sunday night’s Bears v. Broncos match-up didn’t disappoint. Well, unless you’re a Broncos fan that is.

Amongst the “Crybaby Cutler” t-shirts and “There’s no “Jay” in team” signs, Jay Cutler came out and delivered a strong performance against his former team. Fighting a raucous crowd and two near safeties on the first drive, Cutler handled the pressure and led Chicago to seventeen points in the first half, matching the output of the Giants contest.

After fighting poor field position and a few three-and-outs to start the game, the Bears offense got some help from an almost forgotten friend. Devin Hester returned a punt fifty-four yards to Denver’s four-yard line, where Matt Forte punched it in to go up 10-3.

After halting the Denver offense yet again (thanks to Adewale Ogunleye’s inadvertent laceration of Kyle Orton’s index finger on his throwing hand), the Bears were pinned on their two yard-line with five minutes left in the half, backed up once more. Jay Cutler was about to leave Broncos fans restless.

Cutler calmly rocketed passes to Greg Olsen, Devin Hester, and Matt Forte along the drive, capped off with a TD pass to Forte. Things got tense after a roughing the passer call on Elvis Dumervil on that final drive, giving the Bears fifteen free yards and lighting a fire under their collective butt.

Deflated as their fans were, the Broncos did score points in the second half, courtesy of third string rookie QB Tom Brandstater, whoever he is.

With a final tune-up coming Thursday night against the Browns, the Bears have few questions remaining, but they’re significant ones.

My problem coming out of this game is an ongoing one. Who are my wide receivers? I’m sure Lovie Smith will tell me Earl Bennett second on the depth chart, followed by some combination of Devin Aromashodu, Johnny Knox, Rashied Davis, Brandon Rideau and Juaquin Iglesias. (In that order as far as I’m concerned.)

How have they seen enough plays from any ONE of those receivers, including Bennett? Even more astounding is the complete no-show of Iglesias this preseason. He’ll make the team since he’s a third-round draft pick, but he’s been useless and outplayed by 7^th round speed demon Johnny Knox.

Smith’s staff has been completely inept in evaluating or cultivating wide-out talent, and they’re running out of slack to figure it out. With Cutler in town, this team has reopened its playoff door that was closing due to their fading defense. Unfortunately, without a legitimate outside threat, that door isn’t quite as easy to get through as I’d like it to be.

Additionally, the secondary should be a deep concern. Three of the four supposed starters haven’t seen the field in the preseason, possibly making their return in the opener against Green Bay. Not exactly what you’d prefer. The way Aaron Rodgers and that offense have been lighting it up this preseason, that thought scares me. It could be a shoot-out in week one. Fortunately, the Bears are finally bringing a gun to that gunfight.

My notes:

There’s a stark contrast between the play-calling with Kyle Orton and the play-calling for Jay Cutler. You can tell Ron Turner is having fun with his new toy.

Orlando Pace got schooled by Elvis Dumervil. Plan and simple. Pace is old slow and big, whereas Dumervil is short and speedy. Despite Pace’s weakness against short rushers, Cutler was never sacked, getting the ball away on time, every time.

How did Alex Brown rough the passer? Honestly, if the refs don’t want defenders to tackle to opposing quarterbacks, they should just say that. That’s all Alex did, he tackled him. Load of crapola that was.

Caleb Hanie looks like a decent back-up, but I still would like to see a veteran quarterback somewhere on that bench.

On the final drive of the first half I wrote down: “Greg Olsen is a stud.” Take from that what you will.

How awful has this offseason / preseason been for Josh McDaniels and the Broncos? They fire a Hall of Fame coach, trade a franchise quarterback and suspended their petulant All-Pro receiver. If Kyle Orton is injured at the start of the regular season, they'll have to play Brandstater at QB. Remember, Chris Simms went down with an injury earlier in the preseason. Yikes. This could be an ugly season in Denver.

Oddly phrased commentary: Al Michaels described the crowd as “one collective spurned lover.”

Not to be outdone, Cris Collinsworth explained how Greg Olsen is recently married, and how they go out with Jay Cutler all the time, saying they’re a “threesome.” Golden.

See you guys next time and be sure to follow all my blogs and stories directly from my Twitter page @joeanello.