Cutler has Bears moving up right path
You know what's next, right?
Yes, any day now there's going to be a Ted Phillips sighting.
The Bears team president will emerge from the bunker and declare everyone in Lake Forest a genius, that they knew all along this team led by these coaches would have the Bears headed for the Super Bowl.
That will be followed by his version of, “I told you so,” and they'll all slap each other on the back and hand one another contract extensions.
Of course, they'll want you to forget that when the Bears were 4-3, their QB was aggravated and beaten to a pulp after throwing 4 interceptions in a 17-14 loss to Washington.
Jay Cutler also was a few weeks removed from a concussion.
“He's had some good performances,” Lovie Smith said Sunday after the Bears' win over Philadelphia. “I have a hard time remembering exactly what's happened in the past.”
Well, here's some help: Cutler had been hit 56 times in 5½ games, the Bears led the league with 31 sacks allowed, and Cutler had thrown 7 picks against 7 TDs in six games.
We're guessing Cutler probably hasn't forgotten.
He was begging for help and finally got some when Smith woke up during the bye week after four preseason games and seven real ones.
To Smith's credit, he overcame his own refusal to admit Mike Martz was wrong, and he has since fixed the system and saved the season.
Full credit to Smith for finally coaching, none for his total lack of humility.
“We know what everyone is saying about us, but that really doesn't have much to do with how we feel,” Smith said. “As they've been talking about us, we've been at the top of our division most of the time. So that really doesn't matter.”
Fine. Pretend you were good when you were bad and remind fans they're dumb.
Nevertheless, the Bears have gone from bad sorry, Lovie to good, by cutting their sacks in half the last four games. Cutler has been hit on average five times per game, also half what he suffered before the break.
It's no coincidence that he has 9 TDs and only 3 picks in four games since the change to a simpler offensive game plan.
Cutler's demeanor has changed and he's been seen smiling on the sidelines. He's also back to being the QB who takes control of the huddle and fights for his teammates on the field.
Completely different Cutler and completely different team.
True, the Bears barely beat the bad Bills, but they manhandled the Vikes and Dolphins and played a great game against the Eagles.
It's really enjoyable for Bears fans again in spite of what you get from Smith.
Don't let that spoil your fun, especially since this team in a muddled NFC could go all the way to Dallas.
Besides, there are some adults on the team like Julius Peppers, a true pro who doesn't waste his energy searching for imaginary enemies.
“I don't think as players you can be concerned about making statements or any of that kind of thing,” Peppers said of Sunday's victory. “The reason this win was big is because it moves us into first place. But it's just one game.”
Cutler agreed.
“We can't hang our hat on this one. There's still a lot of football left to play,'' Cutler said. “We've got to keep getting better.”
How refreshing.
Peppers and Cutler are too busy trying to win games and do their jobs to be distracted by nonsense.
Then again, they have contracts and Smith is trying to muster support for a new deal.
Get used to it.
Oddest call
There were a couple of times in the second half Sunday when the Eagles should have gone for 7 instead of a field goal, but no mistake was more glaring than head coach Andy Reid choosing to kick with Philly down 15 points and only 4:52 remaining.
“Things weren't going right, and I wanted points. So I went with points,” Reid said. “It came down to one possession and an onside kick.”
It should have come down to a 2-point conversion, but one coach's folly is another's gain.
Lovie Smith may do some goofy things, but at least he knows how to count.
The receiver
How good is Earl Bennett's chemistry with Jay Cutler right now? He caught 4 balls Sunday and they were all big.
The first was a short toss over the middle for a 10-yard TD. The second was a short pass left that went for 30 yards late in the first half that set up another TD.
That also went to Bennett when Cutler hit him with a short throw on the right sideline that only Bennett could reach.
The last was yet another short throw on a third-and-8 from the Philly 41 that got 10 yards and a first down on the Bears' 10-minute drive in the third that sealed the victory.
The number
One more Bears victory and Jay Cutler will post his first winning record since high school.
The lost month
Chester Taylor carried six times for minus-3 yards Sunday. He's averaging 1.4 yards per carry in his last four games.
Coincidence?
The Pats are 6-1 without Randy Moss. The Vikings were 1-3 with him and are 2-2 without him. The Titans were 5-3 when he got there and 0-3 since he arrived.
And finally …
Foxsports.com's Mark Kriegel, on Cowboys owner Jerry Jones: “Apart from the platitudes, he doesn't have much to say. Regrettably, that doesn't stop him from talking.”
brozner@dailyherald.com