Oct 21st 2008 11:47AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: BearsBears quarterback Kyle Orton had a fantastic game on Sunday against the Vikings, and he’s looking nothing at all like the guy who started for the Bears in 2005.

Orton completed 21 of 32 passes for 283 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions, for a passer rating of 114.5 on Sunday — the sixth best passer rating in the league in Week 7. But he actually did that on a day when his receivers didn’t do him any favors.

Marty Booker dropped what should have been a 14-yard touchdown pass at the start of the second quarter. He also dropped what should have been a 24-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter. And Desmond Clark fumbled what should have been a 36-yard touchdown pass at the 1-yard line.

So what would Orton’s numbers have looked like if his receivers had held onto the ball on those three plays? He would have had two more completions, 39 more yards and three more touchdowns, meaning he would have gone 23 of 32 for 322 yards, with five touchdowns and no interceptions. That’s a passer rating of 143.5, which would have been the best passer rating in the NFL on the week.

So, yes, Orton had a great game on Sunday. Even greater than the numbers suggest.