By now, with the NFL regular season ready to kick off, you've heard a lot of hoopla about the 2013 Chicago Bears offense.
You've heard about the revitalized offensive line. You've heard new head coach Marc Trestman is an offensive guru. You've heard that in spite of six concussions, Cutler is back and ready to play. You've heard the preseason games were not too bad.
That being said: C'mon. We're talking about the Bears offense. These guys allowed 38 sacks on poor Smokin' Jay Cutler last season. And 23 in 2011. Not to mention 52 in 2010, nine of which occured in the first half of one game—an NFL record.
In his 56 regular-season games with the Bears, Cutler has been sacked 148 times—an average of 2.6 sacks a game. Have you ever read the Wikipedia page for quarterback sack? The main photo is Jay Cutler, at Vanderbilt, getting hella-sacked.
In their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer's squad allowed seven sacks and two interceptions, one of which yielded a 60-yard defensive touchdown (some responsible parties have since been cut). Things improved slighty in Week 2 against the Chargers (two sacks, one pick), and the Bears looked like real live Pro Bowlers against the Oakland Raiders in Week 3.
But don't be fooled. Jay & co. have a ways to go. Just keep your hopes up! There's a chance the new O-liners Jermon Bushrod, Matt Slauson, Jordan Mills, and Kyle Long can keep Same Ol' Jay safe for 16 games. And if that turns out to be true, then everyone in Chicago can be happy that scenes like this will all be a thing of the past.