(AP Photo via MLive.com)

We are witnessing something historic right now in the NFL. As the Lions soundly defeated the Bears 24-13 last night on Monday Night Football, the team that was the laughing stock of the league at 0-16 just three years ago improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1956.

It was the city’s first MNF game since 1991, and the Detroit crowd brought the noise to Ford Field, resulting in six false start penalties by the visiting Bears in the first half (9 total). Calvin Johnson scored on a 73-yard pass from Matt Stafford in the second quarter, and Jahvid Best added an 88-yard TD dash to give the Lions a double-digit lead in the third quarter.

The Lions defense harassed Jay Cutler all night long with 3 sacks and countless knockdowns, and to his credit, the Bears QB hung in and did his best to avoid the rush and try to make things happen. But Chicago simply couldn’t get the offense rolling in the second half, and the defense couldn’t contain Best, so the Bears now fall to 2-3, a full three games behind the NFC North leading Lions and Packers.

Watch Jahvid Best’s 88-yard TD run after the jump:

(Photo: KansasCity.com)

Here’s another one for the “winning forgives everything” file: ESPN’s SportsNation is running a poll to find out which current NFL quarterback is the least likeable: Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick or Jay Cutler. And in what really should come as no surprise at this point, America thinks that Cutler is the worst of the bunch. By a large margin.

So according to this unscientific sample, Cutler’s moping and perceived tap-out in the NFC Championship game is less forgivable than (alleged) rape and (convicted) electrocution of dogs. Gotcha.

(ESPN Image via FoulBalls.com)

The persecution of the Bears QB has reached a fever pitch this week, with FoxSports.com’s Jason Whitlock openly calling Cutler a quitter, and implying that he had mentally checked out long ago. Then there’s this video from TMZ, which is getting all sorts of attention today. Apparently Cutler doesn’t exhibit enough of a limp while walking around town for some people’s liking. And on Monday there was an uproar when he went to dinner with his family after the game, and had the gaul to use the stairs to walk up to the private dining area … when there was an elevator available (gasp)!

Nevermind the fact that any doctor will tell you a patient can walk normally with a Grade II MCL tear. Don’t let that get in the way of a good media execution. Disgruntled Bears fans are just looking for a fall guy to blame the loss on, when the fact remains that Chicago was losing that game with or without Cutler.

Meanwhile, Roethlisberger and Vick can violate any number of legal and moral codes, win a few football games, and all is forgiven. I’d say our priorities as a nation seem to be perfectly in line, wouldn’t you?

[H/T FoulBalls]

Cutler secretly journals in his helmet during practice (Photo: Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune)

Monday January 17

Playing Packers on Sunday. Papers are calling this a big deal. I am the only one in the locker room that reads the paper.  Tribune is a rag. The Packers uniforms look stupid. I might have pancakes for dinner.

Tuesday January 18

Eating a Chipotle burrito. Reading nutritional content. Wildly caloric. Not surprising how fat the women are in this town.  Does not explain overall stupidity, however.  Spent some time last night watching tape of Packers. One of their linemen looks like a G.L.O.W. wrestler. Possibly shaved armpits. The world is going down the crapper one shaved manpit at a time.

Wednesday January 19

Urlacher gave a speech at the end of practice. Wasn’t listening. Distracted by strange cracks in locker room ceiling. Poor paint job. Shoddy union work. Players seemed fired up when he was done. Slipped out the back door when no one was looking. Sat in car in the parking lot. Listened to an old mix tape from old Vandy girlfriend. Counting Crows. The players stream out into the lot. A lot of the guys on the team drive really stupid cars.

Thursday January 20

Parents forwarded me a column from espn.com about me by some hack Rick Reilly. Parents still have AOL account. Print out and read article while in the hot tub. I remember Elway, very equine-shaped head. Very successful owner of car dealerships. I did not realize he was a football player. Just another thing Shanahan could not explain succinctly. Martz comes by drinking tea. He nods at me. Have ignored him since week 6 and life has been better for it.

Friday January 21

Spend evening with girlfriend. When she falls asleep head downstairs to watch TV. NFL Films is showing old Packers/Bears games. Make turkey sandwich and drink a glass of sodium-packed Spicy V-8. Watch grainy film and read poorly written scouting reports until I get tired and then go to bed. Even scouting reports on the Packers are boring.

Saturday January 22

I can tell that some of the guys are getting nervous about game on Sunday. Have to tell one of the receivers what the route is on simple audible during walk through. Gather the offense around me before heading into locker room. I tell them tomorrow is just another game. I tell them the Packers are idiots with shaved armpits and have a bush-league coach that couldn’t solve a crossword puzzle in a Highlights magazine much less come up with a plan to stop our offense.  I look them in the eye for the first time all season, every single one of them, I promise them that we will win the game. When we break I notice the turf, as usual, looks like it has been taken care of by a drunken cadre of moronic, blind groundskeepers.

Sunday January 23

Wake up early. Write check to children’s hospital. Read paper. Girlfriend makes me toast. Poorly. Drive car the long way to stadium. Bears flags fly from apartment windows and from car antennas. Whole city seems to be wearing our jerseys. I even see an attractive woman amongst the general flab.  She is pushing her young son in a stroller.  He is holding a stuffed bear and smiling. I smile too. It will be a pleasure to beat the Packers today. What a stupid team.

DeAngelo Hall deflated the Bears with this amazing one-handing pick, which he returned 92 yards for the score (Photo via ChrisMottram)

Jay Cutler is having a heck of a season. After starting the year 3-0, the perpetually dopey Bears QB got his bell rung by the Giants in week 4 and sat out one game before returning. Cutler may have rushed himself back into action, because he took six sacks in a loss to Carolina last week, and apparently the concussion is lingering … or at least, Cutler would be wise to use that as an excuse after his performance today.

It looked as though Cuter thought DeAngelo Hall was a member of the Bears this afternoon, throwing 4 interceptions – all of them to Hall – in an ugly 17-14 loss to the Redskins. Hall became just  the 19th person in NFL history, and the first since 2001, to intercept four passes in one game. He put Washington ahead for good with an incredible 92-yard pick six near the end of the 3rd quarter. The Redskins racked up 6 total turnovers and four sacks, and there were a total of 9 turnovers (and nearly many more) in a game that was brutal to watch at times.

But Cutler, in displaying his unique brand of stubbornness and stupidity, said he never considered not throwing Hall’s way:

“No,” he said. “Not at all. I’ve played against him before. There’s no reason to shy away from him. I mean that’s hard for me to say throwing four picks to the guy, but I still think if we had to play him tomorrow, I’d go after him every time.”

Really Jay? Every time? Really? Isn’t rule number one for a quarterback pretty much not to throw the ball when your receiver is covered like a blanket? Or is your strategy to just chuck it up there – regardless of the situation – and trust that your rocket arm is going to bail you out every time? It’s that kind of arrogance that will keep Cutler from ever becoming a great QB in this league … and probably keep the Bears from making the playoffs.

WATCH ALL FOUR OF DEANGELO HALL’S INTERCEPTIONS AFTER THE JUMP

Jay Cutler got knocked into next week by the Giants D (Photo: Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

We’ve started a new tradition every week here at ReadAndReact by bringing you the Hit of the Week! We’ll find the most brutal tackle (or block) from each weekend of NFL games, and present it for your viewing pleasure.

We don’t need to wait until Tuesday for this … the New York Giants defense showed up in a big way Sunday night, collecting 10 sacks en route to a 17-3 win over the previously unbeaten Bears. Chicago QB Jay Cutler was taken down 9 times in the first half alone, leaving the game at halftime with a concussion (and probably wet pants). A lot of the sacks were due to blanket coverage from the New York secondary, with Cutler hanging onto the ball far too long, especially in Mike Martz’ rhythm offense.  His replacement, Todd Collins, was knocked out later in the 4th quarter as the Giants put the game away.

The Bears managed only 110 yards of total offense with 6 first downs in the game, and were shutout completely on 3rd down, going a pathetic 0-for-13.  Cutler passed for 42 yards in the first half, but lost 55 yards on sacks, giving the Bears only 22 yards of net offense for the first 30 minutes.  But the stars of the game were the NY front seven, who dominated up front, sending the Bears quarterbacks running for their lives and eventually the training room.  Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora each collected 3 sacks as the Giants improved to 2-2 (tied for the NFC East lead), and saved Tom Coughlin’s job for at least another week.

One other interesting point was made by Shutdown Corner, who noted that perhaps Cutler’s bad night was a touch karmic fate.  As you’ll notice in the highlights, neither he nor the Bears O-lineman were wearing Pink on their uniforms as part of the NFL’s Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Shame on you, boys for not supporting second base.  Karma is a sonofabitch, huh?

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GIANTS vs BEARS AFTER THE JUMP

Giants vs Bears Week 4 – Full Game Highlights

Barry Cofield gets the 8th sack of the half, and finishes it off with his totally excellent “Don’t Tase Me Bro” sack dance

Aaron Ross knocks Jay Cutler out of the Game

This last clip comes from special teams, but it deserves special recognition, as it was probably the best hit of the game.

Gerris Wilkerson levels on Johnny Knox on punt coverage

From his pre-game focus on Michael Crabtree’s cleats, to his nonchalant attitude throughout a horrendous game, to the near sense of relief when he was able to finally put his hat on and head to the locker room, Cutler does absolutely nothing to inspire nor lead the Bears offense.  There just can’t possibly be a less charismatic QB in the game than this guy.

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

When the Chicago Bears made the trade for Pro Bowl QB Jay Culter, everyone – and I mean everyone – said that they got the best of the Denver Broncos in the deal.  I mean, Cutler for Kyle Orton and a few draft picks?!?  Experts across the land destroyed Josh McDaniels for making such a foolish, rookie move, and most felt that Cutler would flourish in Chicago, while the Broncos would flounder under questionable leadership. Fast forward to 7 months later, and all of the sudden, Josh McDaniels looks like the smartest man ever to walk the face of the earth.

Cutler threw 5 interceptions in last night’s 10-6 loss to the 49ers, including one on the final play that ended a potential game-winning drive by the Bears.  And there could have been more.  The loss takes the Bears to 4-5 on the season, and brings Cutler’s season total to a league-leading 17 interceptions, on pace to break Peyton Manning’s record of 28 in one year.  Meanwhile, Orton has thrown just 4 INTs so far this year, and the Broncos are leading the AFC East at 6-2.

But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Sure, Cutler said all the right things after the game, but you can just tell that he’s breaking down mentally on the field.  He looks uncomfortable out there, and his decision making process has been atrocious.  Plus, the Bears offense seems intent on having Cutler throw to his check-down receiver on almost every play, instead of utilizing the big arm he’s famous for to try and stretch the field a bit.  It seems like a bad fit all-around, and it’s only a matter of time before the team starts cracking under the weight of Cutler’s performance.

So, at least at the mid-season point, it sure looks like the Broncos got the better of this deal.  And this just in: Cutler got picked off yet again at breakfast this morning.

Cutler seems to be enjoying his new Chicago surroundings, and now has the Bears sitting at 3-1.

Jay Cutler tries to block out the boos of his former fans (Photo: Chicago Tribune)

I have just returned home from Mile High Stadium (I still refuse to call it by its new corporate name), the site of the much-anticipated Bears vs Broncos pre-season match-up, featuring the return of QB Jay Cutler to his old stomping grounds … much to the dismay of the Denver faithful.

It’s clear that the Broncos’ fan base is harboring some bad feelings about the way Cutler ended his career there, but I can’t help but wonder if their anger is slightly misplaced.  Sure, Cutler came off as whiny and immature throughout the whole off-season soap opera with Josh McDaniels that led to his departure.  But it was the young maverick head coach who has come into town and essentially run out his best players, determined to put his stamp on the franchise.

Regardless, Broncos fans used this game as an opportunity to unleash their furor on Cutler … showering him with boos at every chance, and turning their once-prized #6 jerseys into tools of derision for their new enemy.  The game itself actually proved to be a relatively mediocre affair, with Cutler leading the Bears to a victory, and new Broncos’ QB Kyle Orton leaving the game with a cut finger.

But the real highlight of the evening was checking out the creativity of Broncos fans in their abuse of Cutler.  Everywhere you looked, people were decked out in their most clever anti-Cutler outfits, channeling their frustration into an arts & crafts extravaganza for the eyes.

After the jump, check out the ReadAndReact photo essay of the Denver-Cutler love fest:

(Photos: ArtieFufkin / ReadAndReact)

It seems like a bear would rather spend time in Colorado than Chicago--but that would make too much sense, of course.

Moreover, Denver has bigger fish to fry than Cutler. The “sense of entitlement” void left by Cutler was immediately filled (and then some) by Brandon Marshall, perhaps the most tedious player west of Ochocinco. Josh McDaniels, who has been bathed in drama since taking the job, took a stand in suspending the flagrantly lazy, diva-like Marshall–and it may have earned back his respect with the team.

If something doesn’t feel right in Denver–beyond the exodus of star power–it may be the fact that the team’s schedule includes the Patriots, Steelers, Colts, and the NFC East. Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen, however, is not dismayed, at least openly. He told the Denver Post’s Mike Klis, “I’m really optimistic about — not so much we’re going to win 12 games or anything like that — but optimistic that we’re going to be a good football team,” Bowlen said. “I like what I see. I’m really happy with my staff and the coaches. I’ve got to know most of them pretty well. I’ve watched how they interact — it’s a good buzz going around this upstairs floor.”

We wonder if the state’s rich supply of Coors could have something to do with that.