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 when they wear their orange jerseys?
David G.
Warren, Michigan
The Bears are 6-6 in orange jerseys since 2004. That includes a 2004 Thanksgiving loss in Dallas when they wore orange throwbacks that celebrated the orange jerseys they wore in 1933-34 when the Bears won 17 straight regular-season games, an NFL record that stood for 70 years until it was broken by the Patriots in 2004. The orange jerseys the Bears have worn in 11 games since 2005 (and the ones they will don Monday night against the Vikings) are different than the throwbacks. Here's how they've fared when wearing those jerseys:
- Nov. 13, 2005: Beat 49ers 17-9 at Soldier Field
- Oct. 29, 2006: Beat 49ers 41-10 at Soldier Field
- Oct. 28, 2007: Lost to Lions 16-7 at Soldier Field
- Oct. 19, 2008: Beat Vikings 48-41 at Soldier Field
- Nov. 1, 2009: Beat Browns 30-6 at Soldier Field
- Sept. 25, 2011: Lost to Packers 27-17 at Soldier Field
- Nov. 13, 2011: Beat Lions 37-13 at Soldier Field
- Oct. 14, 2018: Lost to Dolphins 31-28 in overtime in Miami
- Nov. 18, 2018: Beat Vikings 25-20 at Soldier Field
- Oct. 27, 2019: Lost to Chargers 17-16 at Soldier Field
- Oct. 4, 2020: Lost to Colts 19-11 at Soldier Field
With the Bears wearing their alternate threads against the Vikings, take a look back at players past and present sporting orange jerseys since they were revived in 2004.
CB Charles Tillman
WR Earl Bennett
QB Kyle Orton
LB Brian Urlacher, LB Lance Briggs
QB Rex Grossman
KR/PR/WR Devin Hester
LB Hunter Hillenmeyer, LB Lance Briggs, DE Adewale Ogunleye
DE Adewale Ogunleye
C Olin Kreutz
RB Matt Forte
DT Tommie Harris
S Kevin Payne
LB Brian Urlacher
RB Matt Forte
DE Julius Peppers
CB Tim Jennings
RB Thomas Jones
RB Matt Forte
QB Jay Cutler
OL Roberto Garza
WR Johnny Knox
RB Tarik Cohen
OLB Khalil Mack
QB Mitchell Trubisky
DT Akiem Hicks
WR Allen Robinson II
CB Kyle Fuller
I've seen Roquan Smith post several inspirational messages recently on his social media channels. Is there any special reason he's been doing that?
Charlie P.
Dayton, Ohio
Roquan Smith told reporters last week that he's been posting those messages because he's trying "to motivate someone each and every morning because a lot of people are going through a lot of things that no one knows a lot about, so I just try to do my best in helping others knowing there are others out there as well and just always trying to give someone something to look forward to." Messages Smith has posted this month include: "Be the reason someone believes in good people," and "Love your neighbor who doesn't look like you, think like you, love like you, speak like you, pray like you, vote like you. Love your neighbor. No exceptions."
When was the last time the Bears didn't play either the Vikings or the Packers until this late in the season?
Benjamin T.
Wauconda, Illinois
This is the first time since the Vikings entered the NFL in 1961 that the Bears haven't played Minnesota or Green Bay before Nov. 15 in a non-strike season. (It happened in 1982 when seven games were cancelled due to a player's strike.) Before that, the last time the Bears didn't play either the Packers or Vikings before Nov. 15 was in 1924 when the only Bears-Packers game of the season was played Nov. 23 at Wrigley Field.
Chalk Talk features fan questions multiple times each week. Email your question to Larry.
