So now we have to officially ask the question. Is Jay Cutler already the best QB the Bears have had in 20? 25? 30? years. Sadly, only one guy gets close and that was really on the strength of one year. I've pulled the Bears QB seasons back to 1995. I only kept ones in which a QB started for 7 games. That also (sadly) took out 4 seasons completely from the list.
I've compiled them in a simple table and bolded the number by the QB who has the best one.
Let us take a look, shall we?
Cutler | |||||||
Year | Games | Att | Comp | Comp% | Yards | TDs | Ints |
2008 | 16 | 384 | 616 | 62.3 | 4526 | 25 | 18 |
Orton | |||||||
2008 | 15 | 272 | 465 | 58.5 | 2972 | 18 | 12 |
Grossman | |||||||
2006 | 16 | 262 | 480 | 54.6 | 3193 | 23 | 20 |
Orton | |||||||
2005 | 15 | 190 | 368 | 51.6 | 1869 | 9 | 13 |
Stewart | |||||||
2003 | 9 | 126 | 251 | 50.2 | 1418 | 7 | 12 |
Miller | |||||||
2002 | 8 | 180 | 314 | 57.3 | 1944 | 13 | 9 |
Miller | |||||||
2001 | 14 | 228 | 395 | 57.7 | 2299 | 13 | 10 |
McNown | |||||||
2000 | 10 | 154 | 280 | 55.0 | 1646 | 8 | 9 |
Matthews | |||||||
1999 | 8 | 167 | 275 | 60.7 | 1645 | 10 | 6 |
Kramer | |||||||
1998 | 8 | 151 | 250 | 60.4 | 1823 | 9 | 7 |
Kramer | |||||||
1995 | 16 | 315 | 522 | 60.3 | 3838 | 29 | 10 |
I've left interceptions alone since the guys with the low numbers didn't play a full season.
So is it too easy to answer yes to the question? Only one QB bested Cutler in any category and that was just a fantastic year. Kramer and the Bears never matched those totals again.
What is your take? Is Jay Cutler the best QB we've seen in Chicago since Jimmy Mac?