Is Jay Cutler really better than Josh McCown?

addygrace · Post #1 » by **addygrace** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 6:33 am

I heard Dan Le Batard say, on his own show, Josh McCown only looks good because the skill positions around him are absurdly good. I've also heard other radio show hosts say McCown only did well because of the competition he was facing. They've even brought up the fact Josh was coaching kids a year ago, as if that's a qualifier on how good a QB is in the league. They say the eye test shows Cutler is better.
Well, the stats tell a different story.

Cutler has played in 9 games, completed 64% of his passes, threw for 2100 yards, has 16 TD's, has 10 INT's, and has a QB rating of just under 90.

McCown has played in 7 games, completed 67% of his passes, threw for 1800 yards, has 13 TD's, 1 INT, and has a QB rating of just under 110.

I'm not sure why every talking head is claiming Jay is better, because the stats don't lie. McCown is playing better. The difference in the two players is small, except for one huge glaring difference. The difference? Well, Tashaun Gipson said before the game, "I'd rather face Cutler, he'll throw it up, so we can catch it." What's Cutler do? He throws it up twice for Gipson to catch, and catch them, he did.
McCown don't throw picks. McCown also has the third highest QB rating in the league in the span of him taking over. He's also the only Chicago Bear QB to ever throw for 300 yards in 3 straight games. He's consistent.

So are we to believe Dan Le Batard or any of the other so called experts, or do we believe the stats? Well, if it's the stats, the stats sure believe in McCown. What do you guys think?

Cliff Levingston · Post #2 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:28 pm

Would've liked to see McCown stay in there but the Bears need to see if they want to go into next year with Jay. Cutler was also rusty being off for 5 games and change.

McCown threw plenty of bad balls while he was in there, they just didn't get picked like Jay's did yesterday. There was one game where McCown could've easily had 3 picks.

Higga · Post #3 » by **Higga** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:11 pm

McCown is a solid QB, but Cutler has a chance to be a star. He hasn't really panned out though.

It didn't hurt the Bears yesterday, at least in the sense that they still won the game, but against a better opponent those Cutler turnovers probably result in a loss. I always believe you should stick with the hot hand unless your starter is elite like Manning/Brady/Brees/Rodgers caliber.

addygrace · Post #4 » by **addygrace** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 10:26 pm

My biggest beef with all of this is, is the way the media acts like Jay is head and shoulders better. McCown played the position very well. They act like its nothing for a guy to come in and do what McCown did for 7 games. Like he was lucky or something. He's a much better decision maker than Cutler. Decision making is half the battle when you're talking about NFL QB's. What's the use in having the talent the Bears have if Cutler continues to make stupid decisions, passing the ball. We'll see if Cutler can get it done, but I'm at least one guy that thinks McCown earned the position when Cutler was out.

Higga · Post #5 » by **Higga** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:47 pm

addygrace wrote:My biggest beef with all of this is, is the way the media acts like Jay is head and shoulders better. McCown played the position very well. They act like its nothing for a guy to come in and do what McCown did for 7 games. Like he was lucky or something. He's a much better decision maker than Cutler. Decision making is half the battle when you're talking about NFL QB's. What's the use in having the talent the Bears have if Cutler continues to make stupid decisions, passing the ball. We'll see if Cutler can get it done, but I'm at least one guy that thinks McCown earned the position when Cutler was out.

Good points. With all the talent the Bears have at the skill positions(it feels kinda weird saying that about the Bears), all you really need is a QB who makes good decisions and can make clutch plays late in games to win and McCown has proven that he can. Even some of those games they lost, they weren't because McCown didn't get it done late(Skins game he got them a lead the D blew, Vikings game Gould missed an easy GW).

kyrv · Post #6 » by **kyrv** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:58 pm

Cutler is better, yes.

McCown is very hot and is an excellent backup QB. Hopefully both will be back next season, which supposedly is the plan.

Best QB tandem in my lifetime and by a good margin.

WashWiz54 · Post #7 » by **WashWiz54** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:14 pm

I'm absolutely giddy that McCown is doing so well. My brother and I have been big fans of his since his days in Arizona. He was always on teams with a depleted talent pool so to see him come in for this Chicago team was awesome. He did what we thought he was always capable of. If winning this season was the goal, I'd of stuck with McCown. I truly believe he is a better quarterback, at least this season.

Unfortunately things are never that black and white. With Cutler's potential extension looming, Trestman being in his first year, probable pressure from the FO, and McCown being 34 years old, Josh probably never had a chance. My hope is he competes for a starting job next year, but he seems loyal and happy in Chicago.

jabeen100 · Post #8 » by **jabeen100** » Tue Dec 24, 2013 9:03 am

I think, Jay Cutler is better than Josh McCown.

Post #9 » by **gswhoops** » Wed Jan 8, 2014 4:23 pm

What does Chicago's cap situation look like? McCown is going to command a pretty hefty salary for a backup QB from someone who needs to light a fire under their current starter (cough Cincinnati cough) and I don't know if they'll be able to afford him with Cutler's big new deal.

Damon_3388 · Post #10 » by **Damon_3388** » Thu Jan 9, 2014 2:10 pm

Bring back Rex Grossman.