Vince Young vs Jay Cutler: What We've All Been Waiting For

Finally, on Monday, November 19th, the two top quarterbacks (wins wise) from the 2006 NFL Draft will meet for the first time. Both are leading teams with playoff potential, one relying on his defense to win the games for him, the other, relying on his kicker.

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Vince--So Far

Vince came off the bench last season in week 4 to replace an ineffective Kerry Collins. His impact was not felt early on, as the team suffered through two straight losses to the Cowboys and Colts. With the team's record at 0-5, Vince Young took matters into his own hands. He threw for 161 yards and a touchdown in his first career victory over the Redskins. After that game, everything seemed to fall into place. He led the Titans to 7 other victories, many with memorable endings. Who can forget his 21-point 4th Quarter Comeback against the Giants, where he accounted for all 3 Titan touchdowns and scrambled 19 yards for a significant 4th down conversion late in the game. Just as memorable was his performance against the Indianapolis Colts, where he scrambled for the first on 3rd down countless times, and completed a few passes late in the game to set up Rob Bironas' eventual 60 yard game winner. None of these games really matched up, though, to Vince's overtime performance against the rival Houston Texans. On a critical 3rd Down, Vince scampered 39 yards down the field into the endzone, winning the game, and getting a little revenge on the city of Houston for passing on their hometown boy. The winning had to stop eventually, though, as the Titans fell one win short of the playoffs after a loss to the New England Patriots.
Fast forward to this year. Vince Young has clearly been struggling, and the team has been winning in spite of him, and not because of him. The Titans sit at 6-3, but all of that credit should really go to the defense. It's very rare now that we see the heroic scrambles on 3rd down, keeping the Titans drive alive. Vince's passing has seemed to actually have taken a step backwards, as he has thrown for 6 more interceptions than touchdowns, and has made countless questionable decesions as well as inaccurate throws. It's hard to really tell what is going on in Vince's head, because he does not wear his heart on his sleeve, but one might have to chalk up this season as a "Sophomore Slump" for Vince, if things don't start changing.

Jay--So Far

In 2006, Jake Plummer was the starting QB for the Denver Broncos for their first 11 games. The team had a respectable 7-4 record, but it was time for their weakest link, Plummer, to be replaced. Enter Jay Cutler. Jay started his first game on primetime against the Seattle Seahawks. That's a lot of pressure for a young QB to handle, and Jay's inexperience showed as he threw 2 INTs and lost a fumble. He did show some good flashes, though, as he used his laser arm to toss 2 TDs. Like Vince, Jay lost his second game as well before he finally won his third. Cutler sent a message in the Arizona Cardinals game that he truly has a big league arm, and that he wasn't a reach, by bombing the ball over 60 yards downfield as he hit Javon Walker in stride for a touchdown. It was a truly breathtaking play, but it was just a sign of things to come. Jay won his next game against Cincinnatti, putting the Broncos in control of their own destiny. If they beat the 49ers in Week 17, they are in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Broncos could not hold the 9ers off in a emotional game, even though Jay threw for 230 yards.
10 weeks into this season, Jay and the Broncos are sitting at 4-5, and are in the middle of a tight race for first place in the AFC West. Jay has been one of the few bright spots on a team who has really struggled on defense. He has thrown for 9 TDs and almost 2,000 yards this year, and has also orchestrated two game winning, 4th quarter drives this year. He also sent the Broncos into OT against the Steelers, with his flawless game-tying drive. Jay has shown his age, though, as he has thrown for 9 INTs and has lost 2 fumbles. He does not seem totally comfortable yet, but all of that will come. As a sophomore QB, Jay has nothing to be ashamed of.

This is clearly the marquee matchup of what figures to be a great game. All of America will have the chance to see the future of the NFL duke it out in what looks to be a very tough game for both teams. Both teams are in need of a win, but we will soon find out who wants it more.