Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
What is the Bears record in Thanksgiving games and how have they fared in recent years?
Steve P.
Texas
The Bears are 19-15-2 overall on Thanksgiving, 6-2-2 at home and 13-13 on the road. They've won their last three Thanksgiving games, beating the Packers 17-13 in Green Bay in 2015 and the Lions 23-16 in 2018 and 24-20 in 2019, both in Detroit. The last time the Bears won four consecutive Thanksgiving contests was when they recorded five straight victories from 1930-34. The Bears first played on Thanksgiving in their first year of existence in 1920, beating the Chicago Tigers 6-0. Red Grange made his Bears debut on Thanksgiving in 1925, rushing for 36 yards in a 0-0 tie with the Chicago Cardinals at Wrigley Field, just five days after playing in his final college game for Illinois.
Who were the last Bears teammates to each get 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in a game before Darnell Mooney and Marquise Goodwin did it Sunday against the Ravens?
Chuck S.
Lemont, Illinois
The last time that happened was Nov. 11, 2018 when Allen Robinson II caught six passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns and Anthony Miller had five receptions for 122 yards and one TD in a 34-22 win over the Lions at Soldier Field. As you mentioned, Darnell Mooney caught five passes for 121 yards and one touchdown and Marquise Goodwin had four receptions for 104 yards and one TD in last Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Ravens.
I appreciate Jakeem Grant's aggressiveness, but I'm not sure he's always making the correct decision in taking kickoffs out of the end zone. How often has he returned the ball beyond the 25-yard line (where the Bears would get the ball on a touchback)?
Pete W.
Zion, Illinois
I did some research and Jakeem Grant Sr. is batting .500. He's taken eight kickoffs out of the end zone this season and has made it beyond the 25 on four occasions. Chronologically, beginning with his first returns against the Raiders, he has brought kickoffs out of the end zone and reached his own 28, 27, 16, 31, 26, 18, 11 and 22.
Chalk Talk features fan questions multiple times each week. Email your question to Larry.
