Yeah, it was weird.
Ever notice, that whenever you were convinced he was rolling and was going to continue rolling. Was when he shit the bed out of nowhere?
Then, whenever you thought it may finally be over for Jay? Was when he came out of nowhere and played great football?
Examples:
2010... They started 4-1, then Cutler played a couple dreadful games against inferior opponents such as Seattle and Washington. Hall intercepted him 4 times in one game, in a game we HANDED away vs the Redskins, heading into the bye. Then out of the bye, we reel off 5 in a row to get to 9-3. We win the division, and Cutler is on fire. Plays maybe his best game as a Bear in his first playoff game. Then, vs Green Bay in the NFCCG, a complete shit show and an early exit with an injury.
2011... Horrific losses to GB and Detroit weeks, to fall to 2-3. Reels off 5 in a row, right into a season ending injury.
2013 - 8-6, need to win one of two games to clinch the division. Offense on fire all year. Proceeds to lay an egg in Philly, in a 54-11 loss. He played well vs GB, but came up short.
2014/15 - Utter shit show leads to his benching in 2014, a year that we had Super Bowl aspirations. Then, in 2015, we're wondering why this guy is even starting for us. Then he proceeds to post the best QB rating of his career. Outplays Aaron Rodgers for a good portion of the season.
Finally, he gets over that hump and beats Green Bay. We actually have positivity brewing around the team for the first time in a while. Then... he proceeds to play horrifically and throws a pick six en route to losing to 2 win 49ers, to dash our playoff hopes. At home.
2016 - Starts off rather poorly, gets hurt. Talks that he'll never play for the Bears again. Hoyer injury forces him back in. Playing 5-1 Minnesota on Monday Night football. We all think it's a disaster... then he proceeds to play one of the most flawless games of his career. We route what many people thought was the best defense in football.
Next up, Tampa Bay out of the bye week... and he proceeds to go into the feedle position, shitting his pants. 4 INT's and a pick six to Chris Conte.
I'll never get his psychology man. It was like... when he was rolling, he'd get too confident and believe he could do whatever the hell he wanted. Then, he'd have to come all the way back to utter rock bottom, to be reminded to stay within himself (which was when he was at his best)... but... it was just a slow and sure rise back to that peaking point. Where we'd find him falling flat on his face... and then... rinse and repeat.
He never figured it out. He didn't have it easy here, and I think in a higher functioning organization. With better coaching, who knows? Maybe he does. However, he was just as accountable for his own failures, no doubt. Truly great QB's make it happen, no matter what. They don't need people to make excuses for them, they just win.
I'll never back down from saying that he was one of the tougher QB's I ever saw, despite public perception. That guy got f'd up, time and time again. More than people know. He always got up. Even when he got hurt, he always kept playing. If you think about it, he only ever left a game after continuing past the injury. Before he was evaluated and forced out by the medical or coaching staff.
He also cared a lot more than people believe. People are fooled by his lack of enthusiasm, but that's just not who he is. Kyle Long, Jeffery... etc... all of these guys stick up for his character and effort. I believe them, and I still am a fan of the guy.
Especially since it looks like he'll go to the AFC, I'll pull for him. Wherever he winds up. It was a hell of a ride. I'm glad to step off, finally. However, I'll never forget it.
@JoeyTourettes
That sums up my "tearing our hearts out" comment.....................