First, there's no apologizing for five interceptions, period. You can say what you want about slips and bad routes, but that might account for one or two - not five.

But before anyone puts out the call to abandon Cutler - which you're hearing from a lot of non-Bears fans but few of those who cheer for the Bears - you also have to stop to consider that, despite the five picks, the Bears STILL could have won on the final play of the game at San Francisco.

Despite the four picks in Green Bay to begin the season, the Bears still could have won on the final drive. And that's simply not something that could have happened with others under center.

The simple truth is that Slingin' Jay is winging it behind a bad offensive line, trying to accomplish far too much with just too little (at least for now) surrounding him. It's not an excuse - nor should anyone make them - it's just a statement rooted in reality.

Everyone began the season thinking that the receivers would let Cutler down, but they haven't. They've been pretty decent - but most are rookies. They need time. The bigger issue has been the offensive line and its inability to move people off the ball. That's meant that not only is Matt Forte the biggest bust in fantasy right now (by little fault of his own), but that opposing defensive backs are sitting back on Slingin' Jay, just waiting to pounce.

Unfortunately for Bears fans, offensive lines are not cured overnight. There are rookies or near-rookies there too, so they need a requisite grooming period just like any other position. The Bears can certainly be potent and, with Cutler, they will upset a team or two during the second half of this season. Watch out, Vikings. But the simple math is that the Bears need more time, and impatient Bears fans might want to set their expectations aside on the bar and dream of better days next season and beyond.

-- THOMAS TYRER