Personally, when I watch the Bears, I see a team with some impressive young talent, but not nearly enough at this point to be competitive over four quarters. I also see a team lost at quarterback, with or without Jay Cutler, who returns by default to the starting lineup for Monday night's game against the Vikings at Soldier Field .
The Bears don't want Cutler anymore. But coach John Fox has no other choice. Brian Hoyer's left arm is broke and Matt Barkley's right one is useless (see: 18.3 passer rating in relief of Hoyer in last week's 26-10 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field).
Even Cutler, who's been out since injuring his right thumb in Week 2, knows he's just being handed a mop to clean up until the divorce is final or he's hurt again. This week, a reporter asked him if he thinks he's still got Fox's support. Cutler's answer: "He doesn't have a choice, I guess, at this point."
Captain's take on Cutler: Cutler didn't play in the Packers game, so watching that tape helps little in terms of the Bears' passing game at this point. But I think we all know Cutler. He's either one of the worst good quarterbacks in recent years, or one of the best bad quarterbacks in recent years. He's 67-69 as an NFL starter, including 50-49 in Chicgao. He's played in only two playoff games, going 1-1 with the Bears in 2010. And he stood on the sideline with a bum knee for most of the NFC title game home loss to the Packers that year. Cutler's career in Chicago has been one of arm-strength promise followed by inconsistent decision-making behind inadequate pass protection.
Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn was asked about Cutler on Tuesday. Here is his take: "He's got a little Brett Favre in him. Brett Favre is a Hall of Famer. People also label [Cutler] as a gunslinger. They feel like he can fit the ball through any windows. So he takes some risks, but at the same time, I think you can live and die by that. And I think their team does that."
That's both comforting and scary for the Vikings. Cutler has nothing to lose. His team is 1-6 and he has no future in Chicago. He has nothing to lose and he does have elite arm strength. He'll either use it to make some big plays down the field to big targets such as Alshon Jeffery, or carelessly sling the ball downfield to defenders such as Harrison Smith.
Considering Cutler hasn't played since Week 2, I'd lean toward the latter.
Overview: I can't recall the last time the Vikings were favored by 5 1/2 points in Chicago. The Bears opened with three straight losses to Houston, Philadelphia and Dallas. They beat Detroit at home and then lost to the Colts, Jacksonville and Packers. The low point has to be the 17-16 home loss to the Jaguars. It highlights the teams' NFL-worst 15.9 points per game average.