Kyle Orton Could Be in the Mix in '08

In the two games since taking over the starting job, Kyle Orton has completed 30 of 52 passes for 285 yards, with a touchdown and a pick. It's worth pointing out that his Week 16 effort was in bone-chilling conditions, and 50-mph winds. Orton was 8 of 14 and finished the day with a 103.6 passer rating.

His counterpart, Brett Favre, didn't make out so well (but better than punter Jon Ryan): 17 of 32, 153 yards and two interceptions (40.2 passer rating).

Orton's solid play will likely put him the Bears' starting quarterback mix for 2008. Head coach Lovie Smith had some nice things to say about the 2005 fourth-rounder who won 11 games as a rookie.

"You do remember the last things that go on in a football game in a season like this, and the memory I have of [him is] leading our team this past week," Smith said. "Hopefully I'll have another positive memory as we make decisions in the off-season after this game."

The starting job isn't guaranteed -- there's still a chance Rex Grossman is re-signed, and the Derek Anderson-to-the-Bears talk just won't go away.

Ultimately, it comes down to one thing: can Chicago's quarterback consistently win games. Orton proved more proficient than Grossman, but neither is the type of player to mount a successful late-game comeback. Anderson seems like such a player, but he also has the benefit of a solid offensive line in Cleveland. I'm not sure he's the same player when he's forced to move around in the pocket, though.

Good news: if Chicago can get the quarterback situation settled early in free agency, that'll be one less thing to worry about during April's NFL Draft.