Jay Cutler: OC a conversation for 'after the season'

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler isn't ready to blame Chicago's midseason offensive slump on first-year offensive coordinator Mike Tice -- at least not yet.

Chicago has only scored more than 17 points once in its last six games -- a 28-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12. The Bears have gone just 1-5 in that span and now find themselves fighting for a playoff berth.

Still, Cutler isn't ready to pin the blame on Tice. Per ESPN, Cutler believes that the conversation can be held after the season, but not during it.

"I think that's a conversation for after the season," Cutler said Wednesday. "We are in the middle of the season right now and there is enough on our plate to worry about. After the season that will be a conversation."

Cutler has been inconsistent in Tice's offense. To date, Cutler has completed 59.7% of his passes (225-of-377) for 2,630 yards, while throwing 17 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. Cutler also fumbled seven times.

Chicago's passing attack ranks No. 28 in the NFL in yards per game, as Bears quarterbacks have combined to pass for just 186.4 yards per game. The running game, however, is the 13th best in the NFL, averaging 119.6 yards per game on the ground.

Despite the poor play as of late, the Bears still have a chance to make the playoffs. Cutler, Tice and Chicago's coaching staff will certainly be focused on defeating Arizona and Detroit in Weeks 16 and 17, as the team focuses on clinching one of the NFC's two wild-card spots.