No. 2 – Jay Cutler
Dec. 3, 2006 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Loss, 20-23
Passing: 10-for-21, 143 Yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
The first two touchdowns of the game came from the right arm of Cutler. The problem was, one of those went to Seattle’s Darryl Tapp on a pick-six. Still, thanks to two Jason Elam field goals, Denver led 13-7 through three quarters. Then, the Broncos (and Cutler) buckled.
First, Shaun Alexander put the Seahawks up by a point with a one-yard touchdown run. Denver’s Brian Clark had the ball stripped on the ensuing kickoff and Seattle’s Josh Brown kicked a field goal to extend the lead. On the Broncos’ very next play from scrimmage, Cutler was intercepted for another near pick-six. Denver’s defense held fast, though, and kept the score 20-13. Things weren’t over.
On the Broncos next play from scrimmage, Cutler hit Brandon Marshall for a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown. An Elam extra point would tie the game at 20. But, sadly, Denver’s defense surrendered a 54-yard drive that led to the go-ahead field goal with just a few seconds remaining.
Tim Tebow may get all the credit as the Broncos’ “cardiac quarterback,” but Cutler’s first start was nothing short of heart-stopping in both good and bad ways.
