Continually during Jay Cutler's tenure with the Bears, he's been forced to watch perpetually awful quarterbacks like Caleb Hanie, Josh McCown, and even Jimmy Clausen come close to stealing his job. They've all ultimately failed in that endeavor and Cutler's managed to survive as the Bears' quarterback, until now it appears.
Add another name to the list of usurpers. This time, it's Brian Hoyer who's making a push to supplant Cutler with Cutler on the sidelines due to a sprained thumb in his throwing hand. Hoyer, who the Bears signed this offseason as Cutler's backup, helped guide the team to its first win of the season against the hapless Lions on Sunday.
And suddenly, the idea of Hoyer keeping the starting job after Cutler regains his health is catching on like wildfire. On Monday, Bears coach John Fox indicated that Hoyer is playing well enough to continue on as the starter.
Fox said, per CBS Chicago-"It's performance-based. So anybody that's performing well, I don't think we're going to be likely to change."
>>Vikings Frustrate Giants, Remain Undefeated
Minnesota's defense denied Odell Beckham Jr. all night and forced two turnovers that led to 10 points, and the Vikings mystified Eli Manning yet again during a 24-10 victory Monday over the New York Giants.
Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph for the third straight game and kept his turnover-free streak since joining Minnesota intact, helping the Vikings (4-0) lead from start to finish after falling behind in each of their first three wins and record their first 4-0 start since 2009. The Vikings, Eagles and Broncos are the only remaining unbeatens.
Beckham, who has yet to score this season, was smothered by cornerback Xavier Rhodes and had a career-low 23 yards on three catches.
Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard were quiet, too, and Manning was erratic as ever while finishing 25 for 45 for just 261 yards. Rhodes picked him off in the third quarter , the 15th interception for Manning in eight career starts against the Vikings. He's 2-6 with only five touchdown passes.
Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon each ran for a touchdown as the Vikings rushed for a season-high 104 yards to strike their best balance of the season as they continue to craft a post-Adrian Peterson strategy without their injured veteran running back. Bradford went 26 for 36 for 262 yards, thriving with quick-release throws behind an offensive line that protected better than it had in any of the previous three games.
The Vikings, who have allowed only 50 points in four games and rank second in the league in that category, have an NFL-best turnover margin of plus-10. The Giants (2-2) dropped to minus-8 for the season, including a muffed punt in the first quarter by Dwayne Harris that was forced by Vikings wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson in his new role on the coverage team.
