The Chicago Bears started 0-3, but have won their past two games, both with Jay Cutler, who has been plagued by a hamstring injury.
Cutler, who has been Chicago's quarterback since 2009, is being called the Bears' leader by Chicago Tribune columnist David Haugh, despite plenty of criticism over the years toward the former Vanderbilt star.
"There are no dramatic tales to tell regarding what Jay Cutler told Bears wide receivers, whoever they are, in the huddle during two clutch fourth-quarter scoring drives in Sunday's 18-17 victory over the [Kansas City] Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium," Haugh wrote.
"That would have required Cutler and his receivers actually huddling, which the Bears quarterback strongly discouraged down the stretch."
"I try not to huddle, I try to keep them at the line so they're not thinking," Cutler said after the game. "That's why I'm always waving them away, 'Let's go, let's go.' Just to keep them in the moment so they can't stop and think, 'Hey, what are we doing? We've got 30 seconds left and go make a play."
"For the second straight game, Cutler executed the plays with the game on the line, this time despite having a rookie center in his first NFL start, Hroniss Grasu, and a wide receiving corps as unproven as it was unknown," Haugh continued.
"For the second straight Sunday, Cutler made it hard for his critics to complain and easier for Coach John Fox -- and dare I say Chicago? -- to believe in the beleaguered quarterback whose moxie merits respect.
"When it comes to Cutler ... he remains a quarterback who lacks the special quality Super Bowl contenders seek yet possesses enough ability to keep a team from picking first in the NFL Draft. Uncomfortably, Cutler resides somewhere in the middle of the pack, but the last two games should remind everyone who dismissed him out of habit that he is redeemable. He also likely will emerge as the Bears' best option in 2016 if this trend continues," Haugh wrote.
'Honest' headlines
From the weekly "Honest NFL Headlines" series at the satirical sports website sportspickle.com:
• "Guy who isn't Beckham ruins storyline with Giant catch"
• "Seahawks fall to 2-3; Carroll suddenly interested in USC again"
• "Lions' Caldwell on hot seat: 'Why was I hired in the first place?' "
• "New Dolphins coach off to promising start with a bye"
• "Browns to hire McCown's number in depressing ceremony"
He said it
From Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald:
• "The Chicago Marathon was just held. To complete the 26.2 mile course, competitors ran three laps around the ConAgra CEO's logo."
• "Wisconsin students have a new drinking game. Whenever the TV play-by-play guy says, 'offense, defense, kick, ball,' or 'the,' they take a shot."
• "Billy the Marlin mascot dove on concrete to get a foul ball. Why can't you guys hustle like the mascot?"
SPORTS QUIZ
When was the last time the Cincinnati Bengals played in the Super Bowl?
ANSWER
Cincinnati lost 20-16 to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII in January 1989.
Sports on 10/13/2015