Chicago Bears Game Ball - Week 1: QB Jay Cutler

At times, the Chicago Bears have made it difficult for us to hand out game balls... Not because everyone played lights out, but because they all stunk. We have even gone as far as to award game balls to opposing players and coaches.

This week, we had a different kind of problem - One where we could have awarded 4 or 5 game balls. That's a great problem to have.

But, as it were, we are giving our very first game ball of the season to our fearless leader, QB Jay Cutler.

The first drive of this first week looked similar to his first game ever in a Bears uniform - Bad, ugly, and embarrassing. Starting the 2012 season off with a pick-6 was a little nauseating... But Cutler has always had a short memory.

Where a lot of QBs start questioning themselves when things go badly, Cutler has always liked to start throwing bombs after INTs - Sort of an "eff you" mentality that they can't keep him down. This week was no exception.

After the INT, Cutler got it together, and in a big way. He connected with WR Brandon Marshall 9 times out of 15 targets, had a 41 yard bomb for a TD to rookie Alshon Jeffery, connected with Earl Bennett on three more passes, and spread the ball around to six different receivers.

His final stat line was 21/35, 333 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT, and a 98.9 rating. Not bad, considering he started the game in such a miserable way. Oh, and he was only sacked twice, thanks to a surprisingly effective offensive line.

Honorable mentions:

- WR Brandon Marshall

- RB combo Forte/Bush

- CB Tim Jennings

- S Chris Conte

- The entire freaking offensive line

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What do you think... Is Cutler the clear-cut winner to you, or should someone else have won week 1's game ball?