Brian Hoyer faces biggest game of his Browns career
BEREA, Ohio – Brian Hoyer is on the clock.
His Cleveland Browns coaches and teammates insist the undrafted underdog is at his best when written off and his back is to the wall.
Hoyer came back sooner than expected from a season-ending knee injury suffered three games into his 2013. That allowed him to fend off hotshot rookie Johnny Manziel this summer.
Five of Hoyer's 10-career wins with the Browns, including four this season, are fourth-quarter comebacks.
There's no bigger comeback situation for Hoyer than Sunday's start against the Andrew Luck-led Indianapolis Colts in a career test that will possibly decide Hoyer's future.
The kid from nearby North Olmsted, Ohio is not only trying to lead the Browns back to the postseason for the first time in 12 years. He's trying to bounce back from a funk of six interceptions and one touchdown during his last four outings to keep Manziel on the bench and prove he's worth re-signing as his contract expires at season's end.
"I always have a fire lit, and anytime someone questions you, I think you want to go out and prove them wrong,'' Hoyer said. "I'm sure there have been people questioning me all along, not just this week, through the entire season."
All-pro left tackle Joe Thomas had Hoyer's back when head coach Mike Pettine consulted with him earlier this week before reaching his decision about whether Hoyer or Manziel should be under center against the Colts.
Thomas urged Pettine to stay with Hoyer with the playoffs on the line since he's yet to reach the postseason in eight seasons.
"When you start throwing guys out there and seeing what they can do, the message is: 'We're already playing for next year. We don't think necessarily that we can get to the playoffs this year anymore,''' Thomas said.
Thomas, who has started 124 consecutive games since the start of his rookie season in 2007, is a respected locker-room pillar of wisdom and experience.
Other teammates echoed Thomas' support.
"I have faith in Hoyer, the team has faith in Hoyer,'' cornerback Joe Haden said. "We believe he can make it happen for us. We have to know every game now is the playoffs.''
Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was asked why he expects Hoyer will bounce back.
"Because he's done it before,'' Shanahan said. "Brian's shown everybody that he can play. He hasn't had the best games the last few weeks. But it also hasn't been all him. We haven't played good around him. I don't think we've coached our best. I think we've all got to step up our game including himself.
"If we do that, then, that gives us a chance to win.''
Shanahan said all-pro receiver Josh Gordon is still rusty in his return from a 10-game suspension and ran an out instead of a crossing pattern resulting in Hoyer's first interception in Sunday's 26-10 loss to the Bills.
That's contributed to Hoyer's recent woes.
"His first interception was a great decision,'' Shanahan said. "I thought it was one of his better throws. It was going to be a big play and him and Josh were just a little bit off. ...Brian threw it aggressive and thought it was a real good throw. They just weren't on the same page.''
Hoyer needs to be at his comeback best Sunday, or more than likely he will be replaced for the second time in as many games by Johnny Football.