So much for that one-game-at-a-time stuff.
Jay Cutler apparently isn’t following the NFL manual. He isn’t going Sunday by Sunday. He’s looking ahead to winning the AFC West, to maybe even being in the Super Bowl.
Not that the rest of the Broncos players aren’t. It’s just that they’re not Jay Cutler. Given the unwritten rules of the NFL, they can’t tell a writer that they would be surprised if the Broncos didn’t win the West.
Cutler did. The new edition of The Sporting News includes an article in which Cutler says, among other things, he has a stronger arm than John Elway had. He also says he believes the Broncos, who have a two-game lead over San Diego, are the team to beat in the West.
So, Cutler was asked by the magazine, would you be surprised if the Broncos didn’t win the division?
“At this point, pretty surprised,” Cutler said. “Very surprised, actually.”
Then he went one step further. He also believes the Broncos, shoddy defense and all, can make it to the Super Bowl.
Said Cutler: “With Tom (Brady) out, I think there are three, four, five teams that have a legitimate shot of getting there.”
One thing we already know: If the Broncos don’t get there, it wouldn’t be because their quarterback lacked confidence. Frankly, Cutler should be confident. In the span of two-plus seasons, he has established himself among the top handful of quarterbacks in the game. And unlike Brady and Peyton Manning, who aren’t getting any younger, there’s no reason to think he won’t be better three or four years down the road.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
