20yardline

Just eleven games into his young NFL career, Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler has shown why he was the eleventh pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.  He has not always played great, but when the game is on the line, it seems Cutler makes the plays he has to.

During the first game of his career, a home game against the Seattle Seahawks, Cutler trailed 20-13 with just minutes to go.  Cutler did not panic, even though he had made a big mistake earlier in the game that was returned for a touchdown.  Despite not being completely comfortable as a rookie, it did not show as he came out on the field.  He threw a 71 yard touchdown to Brandon Marshall who broke several tackles along the way to tie the game.  Unfortunately, he would not get the ball again.

Week 1 at Buffalo, the Denver Broncos trailed 14-12.  On a second down play, there was a bad snap and Cutler tried to throw the ball to Selvin Young.  Unfortunately, it was a backwards pass which made it a fumble.  It set up a third down with over 20 yards to go.  Cutler did not panic; he went up to the line and threw a strike on a slant to Javon Walker setting up a fourth down and short.  Cutler then picked up the fourth down and continued down the field setting up a last second field goal for Jason Elam giving the Broncos a 15-14 victory.

In the week 2 game against the Oakland Raiders at home, the Broncos got off to an early lead.  However, the Raiders rallied back and sent the game into overtime.  Cutler once again took the Broncos offense down the field, setting up another game winning field goal for Elam.

During the week 7 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger had just driven the Steelers down the field to tie the game with less than 1:30 to play.  Without Javon Walker, the team’s best receiver, Cutler guided the Broncos down the field once again, setting up another last second win when Jason Elam connected on a field goal as time expired.

It is still early for the young Jay Cutler, but he has the stuff legends are made of.  If he continues to progress like I think he will, the Denver Broncos will finally have a quarterback to replace the void left when Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway retired after back-to-back Super Bowl wins.

By A. Goodin, 20Yardline.com
October 28, 2007