Halfway through the second game of the NFL season, Jay Cutler appeared ready to replace Tom Brady as the league’s top quarterback.
He was superb in leading the Broncos to 41 points in the season opener at Oakland. And by halftime Sunday against a much stronger team in the San Diego Chargers, Cutler had completed 22-of-30 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns in scoring 31 points.
Did Brady start like this in 2007? Through two games in his record-setting season, New England had averaged 38 points while Brady had six touchdown passes against one interception while throwing for 576 yards.
Through two games in 2008, the Broncos are averaging 40 points with Cutler throwing six touchdowns with one interception while throwing for 650 yards.
Just saying. Brady set an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes and the Pats set an NFL record by scoring 589 points in 2007. Cutler and the Broncos’ offense are ahead of the Pats’ two-game pace.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler said, when asked about his team’s offense as it compares to the 2007 Patriots. “We’re young still. A lot of credit goes to Jeremy Bates and the offensive staff and the matchups they get for us.”
In the second half, Cutler delivered a reminder he’s only played in 23 NFL games. He threw an interception in the end zone after taking the snap from the Chargers’ 4. And on the next drive, with the ball at the Chargers’ 1, Cutler would have had a game-losing fumble if not for referee Ed Hochuli’s premature whistle.
But the first half was a gorgeous offensive combination of sophisticated scheme and exquisite execution. On the first five plays of the opening series, Broncos tight end Daniel Graham lined up in five different spots. Through their numerous formations and shifts, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and his assistant play-caller Bates had the Chargers seemingly pass rushing on their heels and twisted in coverage.
With the offensive line again providing ample protection, Cutler had his choice of receivers Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal and Scheffler in what has to be the Broncos’ most dangerous receiving trio since Ed McCaffrey, Rod Smith and Shannon Sharpe in their Super Bowl years.
“It was a lot of guys running free,” Cutler said.
