FOXBOROUGH, Mass. _ As Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels watched Bears quarterback Jay Cutler perform Thursday night at Gillette Stadium, you wonder if he even recognized No. 6.
You might recall that McDaniels became the Broncos head coach in 2009 expecting to inherit a 25-year-old franchise quarterback coming off a Pro Bowl season. That version of Cutler was an impetuous, undisciplined gunslinger with the football world at his feet, a budding star brash enough to force a trade to the Bears in an overreaction to McDaniels considering another quarterback, Matt Cassel.
This version of Cutler, the one humbled after seven years in Chicago, displayed the increased patience and composure against the Patriots he realized he now needs as badly as his rifle of a right arm. The evolution of Cutler as a Bear has included stressing efficiency over explosiveness and letting intelligence govern his instincts, a far cry from the guy McDaniels thought he was going to coach a lifetime ago.
Nobody will study the videotape of Cutler's performance against the Patriots and predict All-Pro greatness in 2016, but they will see evidence of incremental overall improvement that began last season. They will see a quarterback disciplining himself to do no more than his team asks because that is historically when the problems start. They will see a quarterback who slowly has come to terms with what he is _ and perhaps what he isn't _ after 134 NFL starts.
In completing 8 of 12 passes for 83 yards in two quarters, Cutler continued the process of playing within himself _ a necessity if the Bears hope to return to respectability. In 2015, Cutler focused on eliminating his own mistakes. This year, without as many weapons, Cutler must elevate the play of those around him without reverting to any error-prone bad habits. Therein lies the delicate balance for Cutler to strike.
He's learning. Cutler still will make throws that remind everyone of his supreme confidence, like the 29-yard completion to Alshon Jeffery thrown to a spot that implied Cutler's trust in Jeffery and his own arm talent. But just as impressive was a simpler 11-yard completion to tight end Tony Moeaki on third-and-11 that required Cutler rolling out and hitting a bull's-eye with a dart on the run. In those moments, you remember why the Bears keep believing in Cutler and what makes him their most dependable offensive playmaker.
And the encouragement came not a moment too soon. One thought prevailed after Cutler departed after three series: Now that looks like an NFL offense, finally.
The Bears, looking bad enough in the exhibition opener to finish in the bottom half of the Big Ten, created momentum to take into the practice week with their first two scoring drives especially. Besides Cutler showing command, the running game received a much-needed jolt from Jeremy Langford.
Langford established himself as the chairman of the running back committee with a 34-yard run that featured a burst that could separate him. Of course, it helped Langford that right guard Kyle Long mauled Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins practically into Pawtucket. On Langford's 5-yard touchdown, he used the quick cut that will come in handy as the Bears' zone-blocking scheme develops.
Unlike the Broncos game, positives outweighed the negatives for the Bears starting offense. But wide receiver Kevin White's dropped pass and illegal formation penalty will generate a share of sports-talk radio complaints Friday.
In Boston, they will be buzzing about their quarterbacks.
Jimmy Garoppolo started in place of Tom Brady, who deflated the fans who came to see him play by cutting himself with a pair of scissors before the game. Reports said Brady sliced his right thumb trying to pry something out of his cleats _ and the incident had nothing to do with his opinion of the Patriots uniforms. As is Patriots policy, Brady left the stadium before kickoff.
But his shadow continued to loom over Garoppolo, expected to start the first four games as Brady serves his NFL-imposed suspension. Garoppolo, perhaps the league's most heavily scrutinized backup quarterback, did nothing to diminish high expectations by completing 16 of 21 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown. The tone around Beantown would be different if Bears linebacker John Timu had held on to a pass Garoppolo threw right into his arms.
Seeing Garoppolo look the part of NFL starter probably excited just as many football fans back home. You don't have to be a football romantic to wonder if, in the offseason, Bears general manager Ryan Pace will pursue Garoppolo, a fellow Eastern Illinois alumnus. Brady isn't ready to retire. If Garoppolo flourishes in his four-game stint, he might be worth sacrificing a first-round draft pick to acquire. Targeting a young, dynamic quarterback Pace and coach John Fox believe can lead the Bears to a Super Bowl would represent a bold step for this regime.
The Bears have a quarterback they can live with, but eventually they will seek a younger one they believe they can win with _ and not just a division. How intriguing that both of those players could have been on the field Thursday night.
