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.
It seems like Mitchell Trubisky always plays well against the Detroit Lions. What are his stats against them?
Bruce A._
Farmington Hills, Michigan_
In five career games versus the Lions, Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has completed 70.1 percent of his passes for 1,359 yards, 11 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 106.3 passer rating. In winning all three of his starts against the Lions in two seasons under coach Matt Nagy, Trubisky has completed 74.7 percent of his passes for 866 yards with nine TDs, one interception and a 132.4 passer rating.
I keep reading and hearing that the Lions attempted a "surprise onside kick" in the first half against the Bears on Thanksgiving. But wasn't it just a squib kick that hit a Bears player by accident?
Edward P._
Bolingbrook, Illinois_
You are 100 percent correct, Edward. In an attempt to keep the ball away from Cordarrelle Patterson, who had returned the game's opening kickoff 57 yards, Lions kicker Matt Prater tried to squib the kickoff that followed Detroit's second touchdown. Unfortunately for the Bears, it hit Deon Bush and the Lions recovered. Prater apparently conceded after the game that "he just got lucky."
Why did the Bears pass up a 50-yard field goal attempt against the Lions and try to pick up a first down with their offense?
Walt L._
Munster, Indiana_
The situation you're referring to occurred midway through the second quarter with the Bears trailing the Lions 14-7. On fourth-and-sixth from the Detroit 32, the Bears kept their offense on the field and turned the ball over on downs when Mitchell Trubisky failed to connect with receiver Javon Wims. Asked about the decision after the game, coach Matt Nagy explained that he wanted to stay "a little bit aggressive" and that if the offense needed more than six yards on fourth down he likely would have attempted a long field goal. Said Nagy: "We got back to manageable [from first-and-32 following two penalties to fourth-and-sixth] and we're in the gray area. Do you take three and settle for three or do you show, 'Hey, let's go get this thing.' We felt good with the play call, but it ended up not working." Even if the play had worked, it would have been nullified by an illegal-formation penalty. It would have been interesting to see what the Bears would have done on fourth-and-11 from the 37. But we'll never know.
