The expected replacement of Jay Cutler with Brian Hoyer at quarterback involves making a forced change at the most important change on the Bears offense. Less visible but with only a little less significance is a similar change happening on a Bears defense that has been better than the offense, but only by a little.
The defense will be without its best player to this point – nose tackle Eddie Goldman – because of an ankle sprain suffered in the loss to Philadelphia. The Bears have seen opponents scheme them out of their preferred 3-4, with Goldman in the middle, flanked by Akiem Hicks and Mitch Unrein.