ARE ALL THE PIECES FINALLY IN PLACE?

In the ninth season of Jay Cutler’s heretofore up-and-down career, the stars seem aligned for him to have the ‘‘breakout’’ many have been predicting for years. In his first eight seasons, Cutler never has had a passer rating higher than 89.2 and has started only two playoff games, finishing one. A look at Cutler’s first eight seasons and the circumstances behind eight disappointing finishes:

2006 Broncos (9-7) 88.5 rating, 9 TDs, 5 INTs

• Needing a victory in Week 17 to make the playoffs, the Broncos lost to the 49ers 26-23 in overtime. Cutler, a rookie making his fifth start, was injured after a sack, returned to throw a pick-six, then threw the tying touchdown pass with 1:30 left. The Broncos stalled on two overtime possessions.

2007 Broncos (7-9) 88.1 rating, 20 TDs, 14 INTs

• The Broncos were 5-5 before losing four of their next five games, starting with a 37-34 loss to the Bears. Cutler threw for 302 yards in that game, but the Broncos allowed two kick-return touchdowns to Devin Hester. The Broncos’ defense allowed the fifth-most points in the NFL (26.5 per game) that season.

2008 Broncos (8-8) 86.0 rating, 25 TDs, 18 INTs

• Needing one victory in their final three games to clinch a playoff spot, the Broncos lost all three, including a 30-23 home loss to the Bills in which they wasted a 13-0 lead. Cutler had ratings of 74.3, 72.4 and 74.9 in the final three games, but the Broncos allowed 30, 30 and 52 points.

2009 Bears (7-9) 76.8 rating, 27 TDs, 26 INTs

• Brian Urlacher’s season-ending wrist injury in the opener took some of the bite out of the Bears’ defense, which finished tied for 21st in points allowed. After a 3-1 start, Cutler threw 20 interceptions and was sacked 23 times in a 10-game stretch in which the Bears went 2-8 to fall out of contention.

2010 Bears (11-5) 86.3 rating, 23 TDs, 16 INTs

• With a chance to knock the Packers out of the playoffs, Cutler struggled (43.5 rating) in a 10-3 loss in Week 17 at Lambeau Field. He was great (111.3 rating) against the Seahawks in the playoffs but suffered a knee injury after a poor start (31.8 rating) against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game.

2011 Bears (8-8) 85.7 rating, 13 TDs, 7 INTs

• Cutler was on a roll and the Bears were heading to 7-3 with their fifth consecutive victory when Cutler suffered a season-ending broken thumb while chasing the Chargers’ Antoine Cason, who had intercepted a pass after Johnny Knox fell down. The Bears lost their next five games and were eliminated from playoff contention.

2012 Bears (10-6) 81.3 rating, 19 TDs, 14 INTs

• The Bears were 7-1 after beating mostly losing teams when Cutler, who was sacked 28 times in the first eight games, was injured after struggling early (16.7 rating) in a loss to the 7-1 Texans. Cutler missed a 32-7 loss to the 49ers and also was injured against the Vikings as the Bears lost five times in a six-game stretch to doom their playoff hopes.

2013 Bears (8-8) 89.2 rating, 19 TDs, 12 INTs

• Cutler was eighth in the NFL in passer rating (95.2) when he was injured after a poor start (8.3 rating) against the Redskins. He also was injured against the Lions and missed five starts. But his best season ultimately was doomed by a 30th-ranked defense, right down to a fourth-quarter misplay in a 33-28 loss to the Packers in Week 17.