http://www.sportal.co.in/nfl/brian-hoyer-deserves-to-start-over-jay-cutler-until-further-notice/[h=1]Brian Hoyer deserves to start over Jay Cutler until further notice[/h]By
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<time class="entry-date updated td-module-date" datetime="2016-10-02T20:59:46+00:00">October 2, 2016</time>
CHICAGO – Maybe Bears coach John Fox was telling the truth after all.
Fox raised eyebrows on Monday when he refused to automatically anoint Jay Cutler the starter again when his thumb injury heals, but after watching Brian Hoyer (28-of-36 for 302 yards and two touchdowns) direct the offense in Chicago’s 17-14 victory over Detroit, the Bears may be better off with Cutler on the sidelines, for now.
However, you cannot pin all of the Bears’ woes on Cutler.
To be fair, Cutler played behind a leaky offensive line – particularly in the opener at Houston – and without the benefit of a run game prior to hurting the thumb in Houston, and then again versus Philadelphia. The Bears only truly established the ground attack when rookie Jordan Howard (111 rushing yards) replaced Jeremy Langford (ankle sprain) in Week 4. And, keep in mind, the Lions defense is poor.
But Cutler did not run the offense well prior to injury.
That cannot be disputed.
Over seven quarters, Cutler guided the offense to 25 total first downs – Cutler also committed three turnovers.
Compare that to Hoyer, whom in approximately nine quarters, has helped the Bears move the chains 49 times – Hoyer has one turnover in 2016.
Obviously, Hoyer, 30, is not the future. The Bears must solve their quarterback dilemma in the offseason, when Cutler’s contract becomes non-guaranteed. Chicago can open up $13 million in cap space if they trade or release Cutler before the 2017 season begins, but in order to do so, they have to find a suitable replacement.
For the time being, however, the Bears’ goal is to pile up victories, and Hoyer played a key role in the team picking up its first win of the year.
Forget about the playoffs, the Bears want to show steady growth from here on out. Laugh all you want, but the Bears could be 3-3 when they travel to Lambeau Field for a Thursday night showdown with Green Bay on Oct. 20.
Next week’s opponent, Indianapolis (1-3), is a hot mess. The Colts dropped a brutal game to Jacksonville in London, and now have to turn around – jetlagged and ragged – to host the Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium. NFL teams used to have their bye week after the London trip, but not this year; a scheduling quirk the Bears should exploit.
And then the Jaguars pay a visit to Soldier. For all the heart Jacksonville showed winning at Wembley Stadium, they are still Jacksonville. The Bears have to consider it a winnable game.
Hoyer did enough to earn another start. The days of Cutler having enough juice inside the organization to force himself back on the field, ready or not, are probably over. Don’t expect another Josh McCown situation circa 2013. Fox’s comments reinforced that new reality in Lake Forest.