Brian Hoyer is playing well at quarterback ... something he's done before, and it typically doesn't last. But for the past three games, Hoyer has passed for 300-plus yards and hasn't thrown an interception filling in for the injured Jay Cutler. That hasn't translated to wins, as the Chicago Bears are 1-4 on the season, but Hoyer will carry some momentum into Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That game will begin at 1 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on CBS. The only way to watch the game online will be an online Sunday Ticket subscription.
Despite throwing for plenty of yardage, Hoyer hasn't been able to turn them into points or wins. There are many who think Hoyer has thrown the ball well enough to take the starting job from Jay Cutler, who is sidelined with a thumb injury and who has struggled big time. The Bears get continuous flack for Cutler's legendarily bad contract, which pays him far too much for what he does on the field.
Cutler has been, at times, a very effective quarterback. But his best days are clearly behind him, and that was the case before he went down with an injury this season. He's been so shaky that Hoyer, a career journeyman who has failed to catch on elsewhere, can win the full starting job by beating the Jaguars on Sunday.
But the Bears average 17 points per game, third-last in the league, and injuries to running back Jeremy Langford and wide receiver Kevin White haven't helped matters one bit.
The Jaguars aren't performing any better. Gus Bradley has been considered a well-respected coach for years, but eventually he's going to be on the hot seat. He was given a lot of leeway in turning around the Jaguars, but that hasn't happened and it's been far too long. Bradley is probably already on the hot seat. It's unlikely that a mid-season firing will actually do the Jaguars any good.
But anything can happen at this point.
The Jaguars will get cornerback Aaron Colvin back from a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Colvin played at a very high level a season ago and he'll be looking forward to making life tough for Hoyer on Sunday.
The Bears are ranked ninth in the league in total yardage on offense, while Jacksonville is dead last in the category. On the defensive side of the ball, Jacksonville ranks third in the league in yards allowed, but they also allow 27.8 points per game, so things are hardly ideal on that side of the ball.
Chicago ranks 15th in the league in total defense, but like the Jaguars they are not doing well in the points allowed category, allowing 25.2 points per game on average.
Below is all you need to know to watch Sunday's game.
How to watch Jaguars vs. Bears on Sunday
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.
TV: CBS
Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker
Online: Sunday Ticket