Bears QB Jay Cutler shines in fourth quarter

Quarterbacks in the NFL are often judged, fairly or unfairly, on performing in the "clutch," and in the NFL, that typically means performing well in the fourth quarter.

As it turns out, the Chicago Bears have one of the best fourth quarter quarterbacks in the NFL, in the form of Jay Cutler.

Per the Chicago Tribune, Cutler has played his best football in the fourth quarter this year, posting a quarterback rating of 132.0 in the sport's deciding quarter. Six of Cutler's nine touchdown passes this year have come in the fourth quarter -- double the amount of touchdowns he's thrown in the other three quarters of games combined.

Further, Cutler has only thrown two fourth quarter interceptions this year, and has completed 73.9% of his fourth quarter passes while throwing for 517 yards.

Cutler is also the NFL's winningest quarterback over his last 12 starts, leading the Bears to an 11-1 record -- a mark better than Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady.

Though Cutler's overall numbers leave something to be desired, there's little doubt he's played his best when the game has been on the line. Bears fans have to be nothing but pleased with their much-maligned quarterback over the last two years.