These are good times in the life of Jay Cutler.
He says he feels good. He has a good feel for the offense. He’s surrounded by a bunch of good players.
It’s all good. Why, even the food has been good at Dove Valley.
Question is, will it be good enough to make the playoffs?
It hasn’t been for the past two years, but Mike Shanahan insists that stat will prove to be more aberration than trend-in-the-making. Shanahan has put it out there for the public to see: The Broncos are going to make the playoffs.
But then, what is he supposed to say? He’s paid to be confident. If Shanahan doesn’t believe, why would the players?
If it’s going to happen, Cutler can’t be just good. He’ll have to be great. He’ll have to ascend to the ranks of an elite NFL quarterback.
I’ll give you Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Cutler isn’t about to be as good as those guys. But he needs to be one notch down with Tony Romo and Drew Brees and Carson Palmer.
Cutler threw 20 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions last season. The Broncos aren’t about to put out revised numbers, so let me do it: If they’re going to make the playoffs, Cutler has to throw 30 touchdown passes and 12 picks, give or take.
Sure, some quarterbacks have taken their teams to the playoffs by throwing fewer touchdown passes. But Cutler is playing on a team whose defense allowed 409 points in 2007. He’ll need every touchdown pass he can get.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
