Chargers vs. Bears: Why Philip Rivers and Jay Cutler Are Similar in QB Play

It is an interesting sideline to Sunday's game between the San Diego Chargers and the Chicago Bears that the QBs for both teams do not like each other.

Oh, Philip Rivers says all the right things, and Jay Cutler is downplaying the rivalry, but deep down, each would probably rather take a sharp stick to the eye than go out to dinner together.

Yet, despite the animosity built up over a couple of years playing in the AFC West division when Cutler was with the Broncos, each man is more alike than they probably care to admit.   

Back in 2008, Cutler had this to say about Rivers:

"I’m just not that big of a fan of the guy. I don’t like how he carries himself. I don’t like some of the stuff he does on the field.”

Meanwhile, back in 2007, Rivers and his teammates were seen jawing at Cutler following a game in December.

So the irony is not lost on this writer when comparing the two QBs. Let's take a look at the similarities between the two brash QBs.

Arm Strength

Now before you kill me in the comments section, I realize that Cutler has the stronger arm.

And you can't go by this season as Rivers' arm strength has taken a severe dive. Personally, I wonder if he doesn't have an arm or shoulder problem the way he has underthrown receivers.

Still, at least prior to this season, Rivers' arm has not only been plenty strong, but more accurate on the deep ball.

Sure, Rivers doesn't have the velocity on the ball like Cutler has, but what good is a cannon if it isn't accurate? It's not that Cutler isn't accurate either, it's that when throwing it far, Rivers' ball is better.

So let's recap here. Short pass, more zip on the ball = Cutler. But when thinking of a "strong arm," don't you automatically think about the deep pass, as in who can throw the ball farther?

And if I was picking one of the QBs to throw a long pass, I would have to take Rivers. Until this season, that is.

Meanwhile, having a strong arm can be both a blessing and a curse.

Cutler has thrown more interceptions in his career, in large part, because he trusts that arm to bail him out even when throwing in coverage.

Maybe that's part of the reason that Rivers is leading the NFL in interceptions this year.

But no matter, it's one of the similarities the two QBs have.

Interceptions

Rivers has thrown 73 interceptions in his career over five full seasons and the half of the 2011 season.

Cutler has thrown 85 picks in just four-and-a-half seasons in the NFL. So Cutler wins this dubious achievement.

Still, Rivers leads the league in interceptions this year with 15 while Cutler has thrown just six, so the arrow is pointing downward for the Chargers QB.

Therefore, it is safe to say that both QBs have had trouble in this area.

For Cutler, the tendency is to blame the porous offensive line in Chicago, and that certainly has a lot of merit.

But he threw picks, especially in the red zone, even when he was with Denver, so it has been a career-long issue for the Bears QB.

Admittedly, this has been a much bigger problem for Cutler than it has been for Rivers, whose previous high in picks over a full season was 15 in 2007, while Cutler's is 26.

Meanwhile, Rivers has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns this season so it safe to say that both QBs understand the pain this can cause.

Each Wears His Heart on His Sleeve

Each QB has been called a punk, and both have been criticized at times for being brash and having what is known as "bitter beer face" in the way they allow their displeasure to show on their face.

While friends and teammates describe Philip as confident, talented and tough, opponents prefer terms like cocky and overrated.

And we all know how despised Cutler is by jealous fans and players alike. Supporters see him as being a leader when he shows his displeasure, but detractors claim he is selfish and pouting.

Each QB is emotional and that has been blamed for each lacking the success that their talent would indicate they should be having.

They simply fail to channel that emotion into positive results. Or at least that's what the common perception is with both Cutler and Rivers.

Both QBs have displayed body language that makes them prone to criticism. LaDainian Tomlinson, Rivers’ former teammate, recently said Rivers looks ‘‘distracted’’ on the sideline.

Both Are Intensely Competitive Players

Now, on this point, I don't think people are fair to Cutler.

While Rivers can blow up on the field and on the sidelines, he is considered a guy who cares about winning.

But when Cutler gets mad, he is selfish.

Look, Cutler is a leader. He went to Mike Martz and basically told him that he wasn't going to play in a system that was not conducive to the talent level on this team.

That, along with the support of Mike Tice and Lovie Smith, got Mad Mike to start calling a protection scheme and a game that didn't get Cutler killed and was better for the team. If that's not leadership, then I don't know what leadership is.

Yet, despite his own hotheaded reputation, Rivers is just as intense of a competitor.

Each QB Has Been Blamed for Failing to Win

As the Sun-Times' Mark Potash wrote, "A bad game at the wrong time cost the Chargers a playoff berth last season. Rivers was driving the Chargers for a winning field goal at Kansas City on Oct. 31 when he fumbled the snap and lost possession. The Chiefs won in overtime."

As Potash goes on to write, the same fate has befallen Cutler.

"Cutler, of course, is fighting a similar battle—good enough to get close but unable to get over the top. He made the playoffs for the first time in his career last season. His best chance before that was in 2008 with Denver. But the Broncos lost to the Chargers 52-21 when Rivers was excellent (two touchdowns, 141.0 rating) and Cutler struggled (one touchdown, two interceptions, 74.9 rating)."

And we all know what happened in the NFC Championship game against the Packers. I don't even want to go there.

In fact, the biggest similarity between the two is that, no matter what each has done, it has never been good enough.

Until they get a ring, neither QB will ever be considered truly elite.  

Each QB Has Elite Talent

Both Rivers and Cutler can be elite QBs, but the main reason that Rivers has been much more successful leading up to this season is that he has been surrounded by better talent.

When Cutler played with Denver and had a good line and real wideouts, he had more than 4,000 yards—similar to what Rivers puts up every year.

But in Chicago, he has nothing to work with, yet still puts up decent numbers.

Meanwhile, Rivers stepped into an offense in San Diego that featured the NFL’s most explosive back in LaDainian Tomlinson, an All-Pro tight end in Antonio Gates and a veteran big-play receiver in Keenan McCardell.

And you can see what happens to Rivers when he is under pressure. This year, he hasn't had as much time to throw and he has been awful.

As great as his stats may be, if Rivers played in Chicago, he would not be as good as Cutler—plain and simple.

The main reason I believe this is that Rivers isn't as athletic and mobile as Cutler and would have gotten killed playing behind this offensive line.

Each QB Played Poorly in a Conference Championship Game

Cutler was 6-for-14 for 80 yards and a 31.8 passer rating against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game last January, before spending the majority of the second half on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Rivers was 19-for-37 for 211 yards, two touchdowns and a 46.1 rating against the Patriots in 2008.

People tend to remember the title games, and in this case, both QBs have failed to win the big one.

Cutler's Bears were 13-3 in 2010, but since they failed to make the Super Bowl and Cutler got hurt, he was roundly criticized throughout the NFL by fans, media and even his colleagues.

The same can almost be said for Rivers, whose Chargers teams seem to be the chosen ones each season yet always seem to disappoint.

Is that the fault of the QBs? Well, yes and no. It is certainly not fair to pin all the blame on Cutler when he has such little talent around him—at least offensively.

Sometimes life isn't fair.