Cutler reinforces confidence of his teammates, coaches

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Bears linebacker Lance Briggs enjoyed the best view of Sunday's game at Soldier Field, watching from his team's sideline as the offense controlled the clock and completed its most impressive performance of the season.

''It was great,'' Briggs said. ''It's always great to give high-fives to your teammates for doing a good job.''

The Bears' defense and special teams once again played what's considered ''winning football'' in a 27-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. But the 2010 Bears are locked and loaded on the Cutler Coaster, akin to the sort of amusement-park thrill ride in which one rides backward, clueless to the twists and turns ahead of them.

Cutler couldn't stay off his back against the New York Giants, couldn't convert a third down against the Seattle Seahawks (0-for-12) and couldn't resist throwing in the same ZIP code of Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who picked off four passes and returned one for a touchdown.

It's why they got him

But on Sunday, Cutler flashed the sort of potential that compelled the Bears' brass to give up so much to acquire him from the Denver Broncos. He made several throws only a few others in the league can make, such as the 17-yard bullet for a touchdown to tight end Greg Olsen in the second quarter and the 18-yarder later in the quarter to receiver Johnny Knox, after he avoided a sack on first-and-25 from midfield.

''He did a great job,'' Bears receiver Devin Hester said. ''Ball security. He made the throws that needed to be thrown. He managed the game the right way. When Jay plays like that, things like this happen.''

Cutler was 22-for-35 for 237 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Knox admitted the first pick was his fault (''It was a great throw, but I should have made a better play on the ball.''), but the second was all too familiar. Cutler tried to make a play that wasn't there and forced a pass that cost his team a field goal.

Yet the Bears insist -- sometimes stubbornly -- on empowering Cutler to ignore the routine and attempt the spectacular. On Sunday, though, Cutler reinforced the confidence of his coaches, converting 11 of 19 third downs, including two from 11 and 14 yards out. In their NFC championship season, the Bears would have been content to punt the ball. But with the always-aggressive Mike Martz calling plays, these Bears aren't afraid to gamble, as they did on third-and-inches from the Vikings' 19-yard line midway through the fourth quarter.

They faked the run, and Cutler tossed the ball to a wide-open Kellen Davis for a touchdown that gave the Bears a two-touchdown advantage.

''He made a few plays that were clutch for us,'' Davis said, referring to one play in which Cutler absorbed a hit but still delivered a key pass for a first down. ''To me, that's one of those moments when you're like, 'Yeah, we got a really good quarterback for our team.' ''

Added defensive end Israel Idonije: ''It's great to see [Cutler] go out there and just dominate a game.''

Winning football

It's ironic that Brett Favre was on the opposite sideline, struggling through a miserable four-turnover game. Cutler is often compared to Favre because of his penchant for head-scratching decisions.

But Cutler had the Vikings' fifth-ranked defense confused, completing passes to nine different receivers and even scrambling three times for 27 yards.

''He's a good football player,'' Vikings safety Husain Abdullah said. ''We expect him to make a lot of good plays, so when he makes a bad one, we try to capitalize on it.''

The pass protection wasn't perfect for Cutler. But the quarterback got the protection he needed -- one sack, four pressures -- and didn't seem jumpy and jittery in the pocket. Facing a unit with three Pro Bowl linemen, the Bears' offensive line can build on this game.

''We played winning football, and that's what we're looking for,'' Bears center Olin Kreutz said. ''Was it one of our better games- I won't know until I watch the film. [But] it kind of felt like it.''

Asked about the significance of Sunday's win, Briggs said, ''We are a team that is in control of our own destiny.

''When we want to, we can play this good. And when we want to, we can play pretty bad.''

Briggs was talking about the Bears as a whole, but he just as easily could have been talking about his quarterback, too.

Either way, Briggs' support of Cutler is unwavering.

''Sky-high,'' Briggs said when asked about his confidence in Cutler. ''My confidence always has been and always will be with him.''