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.
Please set my Eagles fan-friend straight and tell him the Bears ran the "Philly special" before the Eagles did. He doesn't believe me.
Will S.
Plymouth, Michigan
You are correct, Will. The Bears ran the same play the Eagles dubbed the "Philly special" in the 2016 season finale in Minnesota. Running back Jeremy Langford took the direct snap and handed the ball to receiver Cameron Meredith, who then tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Matt Barkley. Just over a year later, the Eagles ran the identical play in Super Bowl LII. Running back Corey Clement took the snap, handed off to tight end Trey Burton (who's now with the Bears) and Burton threw the ball to quarterback Nick Foles for a 1-yard TD on fourth-and-goal. Meredith and Burton both played some quarterback in college, but that's not the only similarity with the two plays—both took place in the same end zone in the same stadium in Minneapolis.
What was your favorite Bears game of the regular season?
Kenneth F.
Oak Forest, Illinois
There were certainly several memorable victories to choose from this season, including the blowout of the Buccaneers when Mitchell Trubisky threw six touchdown passes and huge prime-time home wins over the Seahawks, Vikings and Rams. But my favorite game without any question was the division-clinching victory over the Packers. Not only did the Bears win the NFC North for the first time since 2010, but they did so by eliminating their fiercest rival from the playoffs by beating a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Aaron Rodgers who has owned the Bears most of his career. I could watch highlights of that victory every day!
I know the Bears and Lions have never met in the playoffs, but are there any other NFC teams that the Bears have never played in the postseason during their long history?
Matt K.
Lake Forest, Illinois
The Lions are one of four NFC teams the Bears have never met in postseason action. They've also never faced the Buccaneers, Falcons and Cardinals. The only teams the Bears have played more than three times in the postseason are the Giants (8 meetings) and Redskins (7).
