Hanie

Leave your answer in the comments box, and you might find yourself in a future issue of RedEye.    1. After one game, how do you feel about the Caleb Hanie-led Bears? 2. How can fans at Soldier Field support Hanie this Sunday? 3. Why would an NFL player, say Nick Novak, pee on the sidelines? 4. How do the Blackhawks feel about having to share the United Center again? 5. Who's happier the NBA lockout is over: The Luvabulls or Benny the Bull?

We're poised to learn a lot about the guy pulling the strings for the Bears. I'm not talking about Caleb Hanie and his mediocre quarterbacking skills. (He's a backup for a reason, people. A better-than-average backup capable of winning a few games, but a backup nonetheless.) No, I'm talking about Jerry Angelo. With Jay Cutler out, the home stretch of this season will be the general manager's saving grace or his last hurrah. A 7-4 record in a tepid NFC should be enough of a head start for a team with enough talent to make the playoffs.

We're poised to learn a lot about the guy pulling the strings for the Bears. I'm not talking about Caleb Hanie and his mediocre quarterbacking skills. (He's a backup for a reason, people. A better-than-average backup capable of winning a few games, but a backup nonetheless.) No, I'm talking about Jerry Angelo. With Jay Cutler out, the home stretch of this season will be the general manager's saving grace or his last hurrah. A 7-4 record in a tepid NFC should be enough of a head start for a team with enough talent to make the playoffs.

Caleb Hanie, this is your cue, this is your mission--if you choose to accept it. With the Bears entering Sunday's game on a five-game winning streak and fans thinking playoffs, you can save the season filling in for injured quarterback Jay Cutler. All you have to do is win a three or four games, and there will be football in January in Chicago. Then, of course, Cutler likely will be back to bask in the playoff spotlight. But, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. First things first.

Caleb Hanie, this is your cue, this is your mission--if you choose to accept it. With the Bears entering Sunday's game on a five-game winning streak and fans thinking playoffs, you can save the season filling in for injured quarterback Jay Cutler. All you have to do is win a three or four games, and there will be football in January in Chicago. Then, of course, Cutler likely will be back to bask in the playoff spotlight. But, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. First things first.

Each week before the Bears game, RedEye's sports crew gets straight to the point. Here's how they see Sunday's matchup.   Chris Sosa, @sayitissosa Bears 30, Oakland 23 Have you seen the Raiders defense? The Bears will feast.   Georgia Garvey, @gcgarvey Oakland 24, Bears 9 Caleb Hanie's no Jay Cutler. I say Robbie Gould scores the only Bears points.   Elliott Serrano, @geektome Oakland 13, Bears 10 Hanie Mania will have to wait a week to get started.

When the Bears take the field Sunday against St. Louis, Josh McCown will be the starting quarterback for the third time in four games. The Bears are 2-0 in his starts this year and likely would have defeated Detroit on Nov. 10 had McCown played instead of a still-injured Jay Cutler. But before McCown's success leads to the inevitable clamoring from Bears fans and pundits suggesting that McCown retain the starting job ahead of a healthy Cutler, let's remind ourselves that we have a habit of overreacting to backups' success.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. They were not supposed to leave Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon on the losing end of a 10-3 game against the struggling Kansas City Chiefs. The Bears were not supposed to leave Soldier Field unsure if running back Matt Forte would play any time soon. They were not supposed to leave Soldier Field with a fan base questioning who should be playing quarterback next week at Denver. And they most certainly not supposed to leave Soldier Field looking like a team destined to be watching the playoffs instead of playing in them.

Welcome to Blackout Wednesday, sports fans. The day we all return to our hometown roots, drink ourselves into oblivion and wake up Thanksgiving morning with no recollection of what happened the night before. Well, at least that's what I do. While you're trying to piece together the events of the night before as you choke down dry turkey and stuffing, count your blessings if your alcohol-fueled celebration completely erased these terrible Chicago sports events from your memory.

Leave your answer in the comments box, and you might find yourself in a future issue of RedEye.    1. After one game, how do you feel about the Caleb Hanie-led Bears? 2. How can fans at Soldier Field support Hanie this Sunday? 3. Why would an NFL player, say Nick Novak, pee on the sidelines? 4. How do the Blackhawks feel about having to share the United Center again? 5. Who's happier the NBA lockout is over: The Luvabulls or Benny the Bull?