NFC rankings: Falcons had George, Bears have Cutler
Pretty sure this is Jay Cutler blaming somebody else after throwing his fourth of five interceptions Thursday night.
If you want to know why the Chicago Bears will never win anything with Jay Cutler — and why Jay Cutler will never win anything that requires leadership, forethought or something larger than a walnut between his ears — it was on display Thursday night.
Cutler threw five interceptions against San Francisco. The Bears lost, 10-6. After the game, the quarterback of the team said: “I have to apologize to the defense. I think the offense as a whole has to apologize.”
Uh, no. Cutler should apologize to the defense, the offense, the coaches, the fans and the guy flipping burgers at Billy Goat Tavern, then work his way up and down every “L” train in the city of Chicago and beg for forgiveness.
This dude is a disaster. I mean, disaster on the Jeff George scale of disasters. He has a league-high 17 interceptions. He has thrown at least three picks in three games. He has thrown over four interceptions twice. That’s the first time a Bears quarterback has done that since Billy Wade in 1962. When you’re sinking to levels that haven’t been sunk to in 47 years, that’s a problem. And he still has seven games left. That’s assuming some guy in a Ditka jersey doesn’t abduct him.
No, Matt. Your team is not No. 1. Give it up.
And you know the worst news of all? I’m dropping the Bears behind the Seahawks in the weekly NFC rankings. Take that!
1. (1.) NEW ORLEANS (8-0): The Saints have not exactly rolled over their last three opponents (Dolphins, Falcons, Panthers). But they could be missing half of their major organs and still win the next two weeks over St. Louis and Tampa Bay (combined record: 2-14).
2. (2.) MINNESOTA (7-1): The Vikings and Saints should compare notes. They might be the best team going right now, they’re coming off a bye week and their next three games are against the Lions, Seahawks and Bears. As an NFL fan, this is when you tell yourself, “Just get me to late December already so I’ve got something to watch.”
3. (3.) DALLAS (6-2): Two headlines in a Dallas newspaper this week: “Stock is rising for Dallas Cowboys’ Wade Phillips,” and, “Dallas Cowboys’ Romo showing signs of maturity.” I know the Cowboys have been winning. I know Tony Romo has been great. But am I the only one who expects this thing to blow up at some point?
Sorry, I tried to crop Tony Gonzalez out of the photo and leave just October, but I wasn't able to.
4. (4.) PHILADELPHIA (5-3): Interesting story in the Philadelphia Daily News with statistical evidence showing Donovan McNabb can’t win close games any more. And if he was on my Fantasy League team, I might care.
5. (6.) ARIZONA (5-3): Here’s the statistical anomaly of the season: Kurt Warner in four home games: six touchdowns, nine interceptions, 10 sacks. Kurt Warner in four road games: 10 touchdowns, two interceptions, five sacks. The next game is at home, but it’s against Seattle. So I think those two cancel each other out.
6. (8.) FALCONS (5-3): Welcome back to the NFL, Michael Turner: In the last two games against two pretty good defenses (Saints, Redskins): 317 yards and three touchdowns. Now all the Falcons’ offense needs is for Matt Ryan to be better than ordinary, because nobody wants to leave this team’s fate up to the defense.
7. (5.) GREEN BAY (4-4): I can only assume the Packers suffered a Brett Favre hangover last week, because the only other explanation for losing to Tampa Bay can be found in the incurable diseases section on WebMD.
Eli Manning doesn't have that Super Bowl feeling.
8. (7.) N.Y. GIANTS (5-4): The Giants are 0-4 since starting 5-0 and the defense has allowed 16 touchdowns in the last four games. The old Tom Coughlin would’ve ripped his players’ heads off. This is the grown up Tom Coughlin: “It is my responsibility, and that is where it stops — right here. Nobody else is to blame. So let’s not continue to [feel] around trying to figure that situation out.” And that, folks, is what leadership is all about.
9. (11.) SAN FRANCISCO (4-5): Quarterback Alex Smith did a really good job handing off the ball to Frank Gore in the win over the Bears, which doesn’t quite justify the 49ers taking him first in the draft. But, hey, he won. That was the first time Smith has won a start since Week 2 of 2007. He’s now 12-21 as a franchise savior. Record as a starter at Utah: 21.
10. (10.) CAROLINA (3-5): It wasn’t hard for the Falcons to locate the key to beating the Panthers this week. Stopping DeAngelo Williams, however, isn’t going to be easy. His last four games: 528 yards (6.1 per carry) and five touchdowns. But something tells me this won’t be enough to save John Fox’s job.
11. (12.) SEATTLE (3-5): I really don’t mean to pick on Jim Mora and Greg Knapp every week. OK, maybe a little. But here’s an excerpt from a SeattlePI.com blog: “When offensive
This is a few years ago. But it tells a story.
coordinator Greg Knapp joined Jim Mora’s staff with the Seattle Seahawks this year, talk focused on his emphasis on the run game and history of success on the ground. In eight years as an NFL coordinator, Knapp’s units finished in the top 10 in rushing every season. … But as the Seahawks hit the halfway point in their first season in Knapp’s new system, the offense instead is not only 30th in the league this year, but on pace for the worst running totals in the franchise’s 34-year history.” OK. My work is done here.
12. (9.) CHICAGO (4-5): And another thing about Jay Cutler: He is 21-25 as a starter and has never led a team to the playoffs. Tell me again why there was an uproar when Denver wanted to dump him? The Bears have dropped four of their last five, and their only win in the stretch came over Cleveland, which almost doesn’t count.
13. (13.) ST. LOUIS (1-7): The Rams had a week off to celebrate their first win before facing the Saints. Two words come to mind: last supper.
14. (14.) WASHINGTON (2-6): I’m still trying to figure out how the NFL deemed DeAngelo Hall not worthy of a fine when he was the one who incited the sideline rumble with the Falcons. Oh well. As a reward, he gets to cover Brandon Marshall this week.
This is Roary. He's what Lions' fans get instead of cheerleaders.
15. (16.) TAMPA BAY (1-7): The Buccaneers’ 11-game losing streak (going back to last season) ended last week, and all it took was for them to wear those dreadful orange creamsicle uniforms. Actually, the Bucs may have found some hope for the future in rookie quarterback Josh Freeman, who three touchdown passes against Green Bay. If he beats Miami Sunday, Tampa Bay will have only one less win than the Dolphins, and won’t that make Bill Parcells happy.
16. (15.) DETROIT (1-7): We have a new team at the bottom. I Googled “Detroit Lions Cheerleaders” to commemorate this occasion, but I came to realize there are no Detroit Lions cheerleaders. Why? Because owner William Clay Ford is into that wholesome, family atmosphere thing. You know what? They can win nine straight and I’m still putting them last
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71 comments Add your comment
Alphare
November 13th, 2009
1:08 pm
Uno?
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 13th, 2009
1:11 pm
Close but no cigar on the first thing.
Bat Masterson
November 13th, 2009
1:17 pm
I read Cutler took responsibility for the picks. I also read it was not all on him, not that I care either way.
Henery Schaffer
November 13th, 2009
1:18 pm
Where did you get your blog layout from? I’d like to get one like it for my blog.
Keep it Real!
November 13th, 2009
1:24 pm
SEC quarterbacks do not develope good NFL quarterbacks!
Peyton Manning is the exception! Eli Manning is average at best, he has a good offensive line, good running game and continues to make bad decisions downfield. Do not mention the Superbowl they only score 17 points and the defense gave them 10 of those points!
Cutler is a headcase and Stafford is pretty much the same! Moreno will not be a good back until he gets stronger!
Bat Masterson
November 13th, 2009
1:24 pm
20 plus minutes and only 3 comments. Looks like you have been black balled, Jeff.
Bat Masterson
November 13th, 2009
1:31 pm
Of course, that is better than what I suspect most of the Sarah apologist are, blue balled.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
1:33 pm
Only 4 people in 20 minutes, I guess that one guy who posts under 30 different names must have had his electricity turned off.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
1:37 pm
Yea, SEC QB are not very good in the NFL, well, as you point out, except for PAYTON MANNING. So, just maybe the best QB who ever stepped on the field in NFL history is from the SEC, but that does not mean SEC QBs develop. And Eli stinks, he does have a ring, but that does not mean anything either. So, 2 of the last 3 superbowl winning QBs are from the SEC, but that does not mean anything, we all know ACC QBs are better.
About bears, game, cutler cutler | Find me About
November 13th, 2009
1:39 pm
[...] Pretty sure this is Jay Cutler blaming somebody else after throwing his fourth of five interceptions Thursday night. If you want to know why the Chicago Bears will never win anything with Jay Cutler — and why Jay Cutler will never win anything that …Read Original Story: NFC rankings: Falcons had George, Bears have Cutler – Atlanta Journal Con… [...]
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
1:41 pm
Oh, yea, and as Jerry said to Kent : “Too bad that Farve guy went to an SEC school, otherwise, he might have been a decent QB one day”. Yea, the Mannings, and Farve, 10% of all starting QBs in the league. They comprise 60% of activce QBs with rings, but, or course, the SEC has nothing to do with is, imagine how good they would be if they went to an ACC school.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
1:42 pm
Marino is not going make it either, because like QBs, Sec backs never do well in the NFL either.
tom
November 13th, 2009
1:43 pm
Does
Chicago not have any other quarterbacks on their roster? There should be a local high school superstar around somewhere.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
1:45 pm
Cutler is lucky it was not 6, he tossed one up in Panic with about a minute left that should have been picked, although, he ended up throwing a pick on that series anyway, so it cancels out.
Winky
November 13th, 2009
1:47 pm
Favre = Southern Miss. When did they join the SEC?
Brian Hunt
November 13th, 2009
1:47 pm
Chicago’s offensive line is truly offensive.
Bill Simmons
November 13th, 2009
1:48 pm
You copied the comparison of Jay Cutler and Jeff George from me Jeff!
Winky
November 13th, 2009
1:50 pm
3 of those picks were not Cutler’s fault. It’s easy to look at “5 interceptions” and say he’s terrible, but if you watched the game, he had horrible luck on 3 of those. 1) Hester slipped coming back to the ball 2) Defensive back went THROUGH the receiver to get the call and there was no P.I flag 3) Hester collided with Umpire
Winky
November 13th, 2009
1:51 pm
“went through receiver to get BALL”, not call.
Winky
November 13th, 2009
1:52 pm
Hookers give more resistance than Chicago’s line.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
1:53 pm
Winky,
He threw one pick with 6 seconds that mattered. No excuse for that one.
Winky
November 13th, 2009
1:54 pm
Mr. Charlie,
You are absolutely correct.
Volman
November 13th, 2009
1:54 pm
You can’t make up for that terrible blog yesterday.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
1:54 pm
Cutler is a loser, just the way he handled the entire Josh McDanials thing showed everything you needed to see.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
1:56 pm
I was correct about Cutler, not Farve, thought he was from either Old Miss, or Miss State, forgot about S. Miss.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
1:57 pm
So 40% of the active QBs with rings are from the SEC.
EW
November 13th, 2009
1:59 pm
Went to school with Cutler, he’s an arrogant Pr**k who can’t be told anything. True Story.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
2:01 pm
EW, I think Josh McDaniels would probably back up your assessment. I am just glad the Falcons have their QB situation under control.
EW
November 13th, 2009
2:03 pm
Agreed. Gotta love Matty Ice’s humility and quiet leadership.
U-no
November 13th, 2009
2:03 pm
Are you serious? No cheerleaders in Detroit? No wonder the place sucks! Geez!
U-no
November 13th, 2009
2:06 pm
Hey, Jeff, Philly is going to get their butt kicked in San Diego. The West Coast is not friendly to the Eagles. That means Atlanta and the Cardinals would be better, and they actually are.
Winky
November 13th, 2009
2:29 pm
McDaniels LIED to Cutler. McDaniels tried to trade Cutler to get Matt Cassel. I know McDaniels smells like roses because his team got off to a 6-0 start, but I’s be pi$$ed if they wanted to trade me for Matt Cassel too.
Supes
November 13th, 2009
2:36 pm
No cheerleaders for the Lions…bad karma, no wonder they can’t win! Give the people some hot looking ladies on the sidelines at least, they pay good money to watch the “garbage” that is the Detroit Lions football team every sunday!
Look, Jay Cutler will be fine, give him a good O-line, a running game (paging Matt Forte, you killed my fantasy team this year you SOB), and wide receivers who are actually WR, not a converted punt/kick returner, a 2nd year guy, and a rookie to boot. Bears don’t have playmaking WR right now. So Cutler is forcing the ball, their running game is none existant (unless they are playing the Browns, I guess Forte wasn’t a total bust, he did have a 2TD game 2 weeks ago, does Cleveland still play in the NFL, or that UFL by now?)
Jay Cutler is only one man, not a savior of the Bears. Cut him (no pun intended) some slack.
PMC
November 13th, 2009
2:49 pm
people looked at the Atlanta offense with Dunn Vick Duckett and the Gibbs zone blocking scheme and thought that hack Gregg Knapp had ANYTHING AT ALL to do with it?
Gregg Knapp is the worst offensive coordinator in the history of this franchise and I say that knowing how bad our history is.
That guy was freaking wretched.
B
November 13th, 2009
3:22 pm
Try again on the Cutler-George comparison. George’s teammates hated him, and he didn’t care about winning. Tell me have you heard of Cutler’s teammates hating him, or has his commitment to winning been questioned?
Chi-Town
November 13th, 2009
3:23 pm
pretty much debunks your Cutler-George Comparison
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Diner-morning-news-Its-not-all-Cutlers-fault.html
Larvell "Sugar Bear" Blanks
November 13th, 2009
3:31 pm
You know what is more offensive than the Bears QB???? I started him in my Fantasy League last night!!!!!!!!!! Good Grief!
RJ
November 13th, 2009
3:33 pm
George-Cutler-Stafford
TYOung
November 13th, 2009
3:42 pm
Ya Know ole Cutler looked so dis interested in the game against the Falcons…..I told my friend he looks like he could care less he is in a NFL football game……he looked like plain OATMEAL….hey, how bout that for a new nickname Oatmeal Cutler…..
SouthGaDawg
November 13th, 2009
3:42 pm
Uggh…Ryan hasn’t been “ordinary.” He’s actually just been plain bad this year. Give me a call the next time he actually passes for 300 yards.
Erin Andrews' Landing Strip
November 13th, 2009
3:47 pm
Hate to nitpick, Jeff, but it’s the “El” train in Chicago (as in “elevated”) not the L Train.
Dan
November 13th, 2009
4:02 pm
Hey idiot. Even at 17 picks he is still the best QB the bears have ever had. If you had bothered to watch any of the games youd see at least 75% of the picks are due to A) Inept route running by inept receivers B) the fact that CUTLER IS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE ON MOST DOWNS because he has no line, and for that matter has a center that thinks shotgun snaps are supposed to go at the ankles. Stick to the Falcons mouth-breather.
atlantabear
November 13th, 2009
4:03 pm
I’d love to see Matt Ryan have to play behind the same OL Cutler has to deal with. The Bears’line is probably the worst in the league so the 17 picks are very misleading. With that being said, the 1st & 5th INT’s last night he threw cost us the game.
Lloyd Christmas
November 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
So why you heading to the airport? Flying somewhere?
JoeFann
November 13th, 2009
4:20 pm
If we’re picking nits, every replay I saw had the DB in perfect position to make the pick. The tight end ran into the DB, who has just as much right to both position and the ball as the TE. He played the ball all the way. Great pick, Cutler’s fault, lousy announcers.
Regarding Ryan, he hasn’t been as good as last year, but his gotten MUCH more pressure. Like most other young QBs, after getting hit a few times, he gets “happy feet” in the pocket, his adrenaline (fright or flight) courses, and he is prone to make a poor decision or airmail the throw. We all know you can’t throw high down the middle, and since, when in doubt, he’s going toward Gonzalez, whose routes are mostly over the middle, the results can be disastrous. Hopefully, in time, he can override the human instincts with football instincts, slow everything down in his head, and make better decisions and throws. After all, if you’re gonna get hit anyway, stand and deliver. Having a more reliable receiver to than Jenkins to pair with White wouldn’t hurt, either.
timthebrave
November 13th, 2009
4:30 pm
Keep it Real!, when you have to follow your statement “SEC quarterbacks do not develope good NFL quarterbacks!” with the statement except peyton manning(the best in the nfl) it makes the first statement sound like you are trying too hard to hate the SEC. Just keeping it really real
SWAT Native
November 13th, 2009
4:32 pm
Jeff,
Please explain why it is that the Falcons are ranked behind the Eagles and Cardinals when they have the same records?
Najeh Davenpoop
November 13th, 2009
4:45 pm
It’s hard to be an effective quarterback when your best receiver is a converted cornerback who has only played WR full time for two years, your offensive line blows, and your running back is incapable of breaking a tackle.
Quarterbacks get too much credit when they win and too much of the blame when they lose. Cutler is a pretty good quarterback.
GT Fan
November 13th, 2009
4:57 pm
I kept thinking about Jeff George as Keith Brooking performed his antics in Dallas. I actually thought Brooking was a class guy before that.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
5:09 pm
Who care how may yards Ryan throws for as long as they win. His record is 16-9 since he stepped onto the field. Not may QBs can say that. Has he looked “ordinary” at times? Sure he has, as had Brady, Eli, Flako, and just about every other QB who ever played the game. I think Sanchez and Stafford are showing every just how hard it is to make the transition form college to pro.
And sure, McDanials might not have been 100% up front to Cutler, and he had a right to be pissed, but his antics were not justified. He should have made his statement, and made his peace, he did not act like a leader to all his ex-teammates he abandoned. When Brandon Marshall comes out looking better, you know are a loser.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
5:11 pm
Yea, I think SEC does not make good QBs either, not like Southern Cal does.
Mr Charlie
November 13th, 2009
5:15 pm
I assure you, if a new coach came to Atlanta and tired to trade for “his guy” and failed, Matty Ice might get pissed, but at the end of the day, he would go our and perform for his teammates, the Atlanta fans, and everyone else who has supported him over the years. Cutler did not just “diss” McDaniel, he also dissed the Owners of Denver, his teammates, and all of Denvers fans.
The Irony is, McDaniels was very right in his doubts about Cutler. Obviously he knows something.
Delbert D.
November 13th, 2009
6:12 pm
My favorite ex-SEC QB was Kenny Stabler. I arrived in Oakland just as he took over from the Mad Bomber, Daryl Lamonica. Stabler to Wells! Stabler to Biletnikof! Touchdown Raiders!
The downside was actually living in Oakland and of course, putting up with Al Davis.
Scott
November 13th, 2009
6:45 pm
How do you have a column? That might be the worst, negatively biased piece I’ve ever read. Get your facts straight before writing such garbage. Cutler is a top 5 quarterback in the league with a bad offensive line. Even Manning had a rough first year in Indy. This is the first and last time I’ll ever read anything from this newspaper. Thanks for the pointless insight moron.
Reid Adair
November 13th, 2009
7:40 pm
I watched the Bears – Saints game withi a friend who is a diehard Bears fan last night. I asked him how much Cutler’s contract extension was costing them per interception. He was not amused, to say the least.
About san, quarterback, chicago bears’ cutler fined, jay | Find me About
November 13th, 2009
7:56 pm
[...] Pretty sure this is Jay Cutler blaming somebody else after throwing his fourth of five interceptions Thursday night. If you want to know why the Chicago …Read Original Story: NFC rankings: Falcons had George, Bears have Cutler – Atlanta Journal Con… [...]
o-me
November 13th, 2009
8:45 pm
only 56 comments= take the advice you gave Ryan, Give it up.
Asheville Dawg
November 13th, 2009
8:47 pm
Just another day in Mr.Rodgers neighborhood.
Doyle Hargraves
November 13th, 2009
9:02 pm
Here’s another prediction for you. Jamaal Anderson is going to get 2 sacks this weekend. I’m pretty sure he will get both these on the field and not from the dealers downtown in Charlotte. Either way he is going to be smoking.
L.L.Y.F.F.
H
November 13th, 2009
11:13 pm
Let go thrashers…let’s go thrashers…let’s go hawks too…I know, Jeff you will loose sleep with these teams starting to make noise…whats you’re next lame story…”its not right the Thrashers are thriving”…too bad you are an angry man…go write another soft story about Arty
jeffrey d
November 14th, 2009
12:09 am
Yea, I think SEC does not make good QBs either, not like Southern Cal does.
Peyton Manning’s terrible. Give me Matt Leinart any day.
Pluto
November 14th, 2009
1:16 am
Put the Niners over the Panthers. Honestly. Based on What ? Singletary is a Better Coach ? What in the HELL !
We Love Dancing Girls!
November 14th, 2009
2:05 am
You’re punishing Detroit in your rankings because they don’t have cheerleaders? Dude…it’s DETROIT! Where are they supposed to find hot babes there to shake their groove things on the sidelines? Have you ever been to Detroit? Trust me, man……it ain’t Rio.
The Ford family is doing their fans, and all fans of the NFL, a huge favor by sparing us that horror. We still love dancing girls, but not ones that look like Tie Domi.
About chicago bears, win, san francisco, singletary, jay cutler | Find me About
November 14th, 2009
5:30 am
[...] Pretty sure this is Jay Cutler blaming somebody else after throwing his fourth of five interceptions Thursday night. If you want to know why the Chicago Bears will never win anything with Jay Cutler — and why Jay Cutler will never win anything that …Read Original Story: NFC rankings: Falcons had George, Bears have Cutler – Atlanta Journal Con… [...]
geno
November 14th, 2009
5:44 am
Gotta put some blame on Lovie Smith. This guy is not a very good head coach, he went to the superbowl largely on default (very weak NFC)…..He and Cutler mix together like oil and water…..bad chemistry, someone has to go.
dagnabit
November 14th, 2009
6:40 am
I had forgotten about the Sad Sack comics. Thank you very much for bring back childhood memories.
John
November 14th, 2009
9:06 am
J. Schultz,
That nudie of Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez sure started my Saturday morning off with a bang. For the sake of my heterosexuality, I’m assuming Tony’s discretely restrained.
“Say hello to my little friend”, indeed.
The Times They Are A Changin
November 14th, 2009
9:09 am
You know its a strange and down year for the Dawgs when its the morning of the Georgia – Auburn game…..and columnists have moved on to the NFL…or, God forbid….Georgia Basketball???
The Times They Are A Changin
November 14th, 2009
9:11 am
Oh, and let’s not forget….the sign on the UGA merchandise at the Mall last night – again, on the eve of the Georgia – Auburn game…..
….30% Off….
Hoo boy.
Getaway
November 14th, 2009
9:38 am
ESPN must have linked to this article with all the Bears/Cutler fans springing to his rescue. Schulz is dead on though, in his assessment. JGeorge had all the tools and some impressive stats as QB. It was never about his talent, it was about his ego and how it trumped everything else. Cutler has to become more of a leader and show that he can take responsiblility for things he can change and not throw teammates under the bus in some media-induced blamefest.
John
November 14th, 2009
9:51 am
The Times They Are A Changin –
You might be interested to know that the UGA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams are competing in the NCAA South Regional at Tuscaloosa this morning.
Good grouo of young folks. True student-athletes in every sense of the word. They practice year round (XC in the Fall, Indoor Track in Winter and Outdoor Track in the Spring).
Then again, maybe you won’t (be interested). God knows the AJC’s not.
Hey Schultz. How about some space in your blog, dude?