The Duke

Cutler embracing the legend of No. 7

As microphones, cameras, notepads and television audiences awaited the words and expressions of the comeback hero, Jay Cutler nonchalantly dropped the name John Elway.

No media member had dared bring up the Duke, out of fairness to the kid. Then Cutler did it.

Imagine that. Brian Griese and Jake Plummer, the immediate successors to Hall of Famer Elway as the Broncos' quarterback, didn't shy from the legend's shadow so much as they approached it on tiptoes.

After the Broncos' season-opening victory at Buffalo, Cutler greeted the expectations left by Elway with a strong bearhug.

"He didn't go anywhere," Cutler said. "You guys are going to compare us whether we shy away from him or not. Until we win the Super Bowl, people here are going to throw out John Elway's name. So we might as well embrace it. He's the greatest quarterback who ever played. Why not appreciate it?"

This direct approach may well provide a window into why Cutler is so effective when the Broncos are down and the game is late. Elway was the greatest comeback quarterback in NFL history and has the unofficial record to prove it. His 47 fourth-quarter or overtime game- saving or game-winning drives remain the comeback standard.

Brett Favre, who either has, or is within reach of, just about every other career passing record, is well behind, with 37 fourth-quarter comebacks.

Cutler, though, is well ahead of Elway's pace. With three late comebacks in a row - the final game of 2006 against San Francisco (although the Broncos ended up losing that game), the 2007 opener at Buffalo and last weekend against Oakland - Cutler has three through his first seven games. Elway didn't get his third comeback until his 22nd game.

When it comes to fourth-quarter comebacks, perhaps Cutler will be Tiger to Elway's Golden Bear.

As has been communicated, scoring has been a problem for the Broncos this year as it relates to their prolific yardage totals. When a team leads the NFL with 455.5 yards per game, it should average a few more than 19.0 points.

Then again, when a team is 2-0 despite having the lead only 32 percent of the time (41 minutes, 8 seconds of 129 minutes and 12 seconds of play), it speaks to the Broncos' ability to score when absolutely necessarily at game's end.

"That's the way it goes in the National Football League," said Brandon Stokley, a ninth-year receiver who won Super Bowl rings with Baltimore and Indianapolis. "You see those games a lot. The good teams win those games."

more on this >