Shepkowski: Cutler's Playoff Debut Reason For Concern
By Nick Shepkowski--
In the coming days you'll hear more and more about Jay Cutler getting set for his first career start in an NFL Playoff game. The Vanderbilt product hasn't participated in a post season contest since leading his high school to a state championship his senior year.
So how have playoff debuts treated starting quarterbacks in the NFL recently? Not well as they've compiled only a 5-16 overall record in 21 such games since 2003. The five to win: Mark Sanchez ('09), Joe Flaaco ('08), David Garrard ('07), Ben Roethlisberger ('04), and Jake Delhomme ('03).
Going forward, Delhomme went on to win an NFC Championship while both Flaaco and Sanchez won their second playoff games as well. Both Garrard and Roethlisberger lost their second playoff contests.
Furthermore, of the five that found the win column only Big Ben picked up his first victory in the divisional round; the same round Cutler will have to win his first game in order to advance.
As you may expect, quarterbacks in the 21 games have played significantly better in wins, combining for a 80.5 quarterback rating. In losses the rating drops nearly 15 points to 65.7. Overall the average quarterback rating in those 21 games comes out to 69.2 which should be concerning for Cutler.
In 68 career starts, Cutler has compiled a 69.2 rating or lower 17 times and in those games his teams are just 2-15.
There are exceptions to the numbers, sure. David Garrard advanced the Jaguars past Pittsburgh in January of 2008 despite compiling only a 41.9 rating while Aaron Rodgers lost in Arizona last year while putting up a 121.3 rating.
So will Cutler's lack of playoff experience keep the Bears from the Super Bowl?
Jake Del Homme is the only first-time playoff quarterback since 2003 to lead his team to the Super Bowl, as he led the Panthers to an NFC championship before they fell to New England.
As for winning a Super Bowl?
First-time playoff quarterbacks have won seven since the AFL/NFL merger but it hasn't occurred since Tom Brady did so in 2001.
First Time Playoff Quarterbacks to Win the Super Bowl (Post Merger):
Roger Staubach – 1971
Joe Montana – 1981
Joe Theismann – 1982
Jim McMahon – 1985
Jeff Hostetler – 1990
Kurt Warner – 1999
Tom Brady - 2001
Nick Shepkowski is the associate producer of "The Danny Mac Show" on 670 The Score, weekdays 9a-1p. You can follow him on twitter @Shep670
