Miami Dolphins: Jay Cutler Gamble May Have Saved the Season
By Erik Lambert
The Miami Dolphins asked a lot of Jay Cutler when they brought him in off the street to take over for the injured Ryan Tannehill. Right out of the broadcast booth.
Think about what happened. Tannehill goes down with a knee injury. The Dolphins are left with a choice. Ride with Matt Moore at QB or take a risk on seeing if they could get Cutler up to speed without off-season or training camp. The lone advantage they had was his prior familiarity with head coach Adam Gase from their time in Chicago. That’s asking a lot.
Sure enough the Dolphins offense struggled to get on track through most of the seasons’ first half. Cutler was erratic and couldn’t find any rhythm with his new receivers. Over time though it appeared like he might be starting to come around. Injuries set him back though, missing two games with various ailments. Nonetheless he stayed with it.
Then came the do-or-die game of the year. At 5-7 the Dolphins could not afford another loss and it was the dreaded New England Patriots coming to town. Cutler, against all logic, answered the bell.
Cutler’s big night lifts Dolphins to vital win
Before the Monday Night showdown, Cutler had never beaten New England in his career. Most felt he was too much of a gunslinger to survive the precise, opportunistic Patriots defense. Instead he put on a show, throwing three touchdowns on the night without an interception. Miami claimed a huge 27-20 victory. This presents them an opportunity to make a late surge to the playoffs.
Their final push will involve two grudge matches with the Buffalo Bills who are also fighting for their playoff lives. Sandwiched in the middle will be a trip to Arrowhead Stadium against the Chiefs. If the Dolphins wish to prove that they’ve turned a corner, they have to win out through that schedule against two teams they’re battling for a wild card spot.
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That would certainly bring Cutler some much-deserved vindication while also getting the heat off Gase for being some sort of one-year wonder.