Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
A season normally isn?t defined by one game, unless of course that game is near the end of the year and it?s for a division title.
However, seasons do have a way of finding the same results when a certain checklist is filled. For Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears, it is a very simple one: if they want to reach the NFL playoffs in 2013, they must find a way to beat Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
For all the good and bad things Lovie Smith did in Chicago, he at least came in understanding the team?s history. He recognized the Bears had not beat?Brett Favre and the Packers in seven straight games and had only beaten him three times since he took over at quarterback in 1992.
Smith fulfilled his promise and beat the Packers that year. The next two seasons, he beat them three out of four times, won two division titles and reached the Super Bowl in 2006.
It?s odd how history plays out that way. Smith went 10-6 in his last season as head coach, but it was two crushing losses to the Packers, among other things, that resulted in his dismissal. No one has felt that pain more than Cutler.
Every quarterback has a certain team he can never figure out. For Cutler, that is by far Green Bay. In the four seasons under center in Chicago, he is an ugly 1-7 against them with just eight touchdown passes to 17 interceptions.
Even so, it is not just these stats, bad as they are, that frustrates fans so much. It is that aside from one or two instances, the Bears were competitive in every single game. Rodgers still plays at his customary high level, but not nearly at a point where he takes over a game.?Chicago has held him to 23 points or fewer in six of the last eight losses.
Yet the only time Cutler managed to reach the 20 points mark? It was his lone victory back in 2010, a night where the Packers committed more penalties than he scored points. It?s not a coincidence that was the same year the Bears last made the playoffs.
To borrow a phrase from wrestling legend Ric Flair, ?To be the man, you have to beat the man.? Green Bay has owned the NFC North division the past two seasons. They haven?t missed the playoffs since 2008, and Rodgers has already won a Super Bowl MVP and league MVP.
When Phil Emery took over as GM two years ago, he didn?t make any proclamations about the Packers save for one ? his job was to close the talent gap with the best teams in the division, namely Green Bay.
This mission he has worked tirelessly at since then. Cutler now has a Pro Bowl receiver (Brandon Marshall), Pro Bowl left tackle (Jermon Bushrod) and loads of young talent like Alshon Jeffery and Kyle Long joining him on the offense. Never mind the fact he has a new head coach in Marc Trestman who boasts a proven history of offensive success. If ever there was a year for Jay to get over the hump, it is 2013 as his contract is almost up.
A big pay day awaits him if he can reach the playoffs. Lovie and Brian Urlacher aren?t there to offer excuses anymore. If he wants to keep his job, he?ll have to go through Rodgers.
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