Brian Hoyer Regrets Play Bears Would Like To Have Back

By Chris Emma--

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (CBS) -- For nearly four quarters, Brian Hoyer could seemingly do no wrong.

Looking more and more like the Bears' starting quarterback moving forward, Hoyer threw for 397 yards and a pair of touchdowns while not once turning the ball over. But none of that matters when you lose, and Hoyer knows it well.

Instead, Hoyer's day will be remembered for the throw he didn't make.

Trailing by six points with 1:02 remaining, the Bears faced fourth-and-8 with the game on the line. Hoyer dropped back and looked over the middle first, rather than to his left. He didn't see receiver Alshon Jeffery open in the end zone. Hoyer instead threw to Cameron Meredith, who couldn't make the catch.

Game, set and match -- the Bears fell 29-23 to the Colts and dropped to 1-4 on the season.

What happened on that fourth-down play?

"They disguised the coverage," Hoyer said after the game. "You just try to go through the progression. Obviously, a play that you'd like to have back."

Following Andrew Luck's final knee, Jeffery hustled off the field without exchanging pleasantries. He was the first to leave the field, sprinting away to the tunnel. Just moments before, he was holding up his arms in the end zone.

Hoyer thought that the Colts were running two-man coverage. Jeffery thought the same. Hoyer also thought that the Colts would double Jeffery.

There was Jeffery open for the game-winning touchdown.

How open was Jeffery?

"You've seen the play just like I've seen the play," Jeffery said.

The Bears finished the game with 522 yards of offense but just 23 points to show for it. There were a lot of plays that could've won the game, but that final play will be remembered for this defeat.

"Close doesn't count," Hoyer said. "We got to find a way to finish it."

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.