Rozner: Cutler, Rodgers off to very different starts

There is little doubt that Aaron Rodgers is still the best quarterback in football.

But with all due respect to Rodgers' ability, there is serious doubt about Rodgers' support system at the moment, and Packers fans - who haven't been able to R-E-L-A-X - have reason to be a bit panicked.

Through three games, Green Bay has played one good half of offensive football, and that was the last 32 minutes against the Jets.

The rest has been a mix of turnovers, safeties, poor protection and sacks, Rodgers lacking the weapons he's had in the past and the time to find an open receiver.

Since suffering a concussion in Week 1, Eddie Lacy looks nothing like last year's offensive Rookie of the Year, while averaging only 12 carries a game. The Packers aren't getting decent blocking from their tight ends, and the pressure up the middle has affected Rodgers and the run game.

Of course, the Bears would seem to be the answer for any offensive problem, but that would be overlooking their improvement along the defensive line and also assumes that the Packers are still the Packers.

That's a myth - so far - and you know this if you've watched the Packers.

Rodgers is so good that he's capable of carrying Green Bay on his own and he could shred the Bears Sunday, but that Packers offense has not been on display this season.

So while Rodgers tries to calm the masses, Jay Cutler has never been as cool and relaxed, and that includes during two difficult night games on the road against ferocious defenses.

Surviving the first half against the Niners and leading the Bears back to victory was impressive, but there may be no better example than a play against in the Jets in the fourth quarter last Monday.

On third-and-9 with the Bears up 24-19 and 7:50 remaining, Cutler knew what was coming. Rex Ryan brought his dad's kitchen sink, and with seven Jets pushing the pocket back in his face, Cutler knew his best option.

Alshon Jeffery was singled and Cutler threw it where only Jeffery could go up and get it for an easy first down, extending the drive, keeping the ball and getting them closer to field-goal position.

It was the play of the game.

"We were losing the (play) clock, so we didn't have any time to get out of it," said a composed Cutler. "We didn't want to burn a timeout, (wanted) to keep the clock running because we were kind of in that mode.

"We felt decent about what we had to the right with Alshon and (Martellus Bennett). We just had to buy enough time to let Alshon work a little bit. He sensed it, too. He knew it was (cover) zero and the ball was going to come quick."

Oh, well. No big deal. Make the read. Get it out fast. Hit the throw. Win a game. On the road. On Monday night.

It was suggested here before the season that Cutler had taken ownership in the team and in a system as never before, and so far he is living up to expectations.

Much of it has to do with having the same offensive coordinator two years in a row and it being someone Cutler happens to believe in and enjoy being around.

Cutler has a high football IQ and he did not suffer the fools previously in charge of his life and limb. It doesn't excuse his past behavior, but it does - in part - explain it.

Now, he's a guy who talks about the offense like, well, he owns it.

Asked about Bennett, who's second among NFL tight ends in TDs and fourth in receptions, Cutler said, "He's staying within the system. I think that's really helping him. He's a tough cover already and he's such a big guy. He's trusting that we're going to put him in different spots to get him open. I think it's really paying off for him. He's doing exactly what we want him to do."

If you didn't know better, you'd think Cutler was on the coaching staff. In some ways, he is, and except for one poor decision in the Buffalo game, Cutler has been brilliant, also staying within the system and trusting his myriad weapons to be on point.

Through three games, Cutler leads Rodgers in completions, completion percentage, touchdowns, yards per game and QB rating.

The Packers have faced three top-seven defenses so far, which accounts for some of their troubles on offense, but the Bears have faced two top-fives and beat them both in prime time on the road, while losing to Buffalo and its 15th-ranked defense in a game they should have won at home.

With the Bears' weakness between their linebackers and safeties, expect Rodgers to take advantage and have a big game, but Cutler - who has been terrible against Green Bay since landing in Chicago - is now equally capable of putting up big numbers, and the Green Bay run defense is dreadful.

Of course, it can all change Sunday. It's a week-to-week league where the impossible is probable and upsets plentiful.

Still, this no longer looks like the mismatch it's been for the last several meetings.

It will be a shootout, and this time the Bears come armed.

brozner@dailyherald.com

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