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.
Have the Bears ever gone from worst-to-first, winning their division after finishing in last place the previous year?
Brad F.
Hanover Park, Illinois
Yes, the Bears have done that twice. They won the NFC Central with a 13-3 record in 2001 after finishing in last place with a 5-11 mark in 2000, and they won the NFC North with an 11-5 record in 2005 after finishing in last place with a 5-11 mark in 2004. Here's hoping that they'll accomplish that feat for a third time this year.
Why didn't the Bears challenge the play in the fourth quarter against the Giants when Tarik Cohen got back up to his feet after not being touched? That should have been a touchdown and it could have changed the outcome of the game.
Jeff D.
Hillsdale, Michigan
On the play you're referring to, Tarik Cohen caught a 46-yard pass from Chase Daniel and fell to the ground, got to his feet and would have easily scored a touchdown. But an official thought that Giants safety Landon Collins had made contact with Cohen after he caught the ball and blew the play dead. The Bears could not challenge the call because the whistle ends the play. Officials generally don't blow their whistles in those situations and let the play develop, in part so the play can be challenged. But that didn't happen last Sunday; it was clearly a mistake by the official that hurt the Bears.
When was the last time that all four NFC North teams lost on the same weekend?
Phil R.
Fresno, California
All four NFC North teams lost last weekend for the first time since Week 16 in 2013. As was the case this year, the Bears were also in first place in the division at that time.
