Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of email questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
I don't recall the Bears playing many games against the Browns, especially in Cleveland. How does the all-time series between the two teams stand?
Rob D.
Aurora, Illinois
The Bears trail the all-time series 9-5. The two teams have met only three times since 1993, with the Bears winning two of the games, both at Soldier Field. The most memorable was a 27-21 overtime victory in 2001 in which the Bears scored two touchdowns in the final :28 of regulation and then won in overtime on Mike Brown's 16-yard interception return touchdown. The home team has won 11 of the 14 meetings between the teams, including the last seven in a row. The Bears are 1-7 all-time in Cleveland with their only win coming in 1972 by a score of 17-0.
Is Alshon Jeffery on pace to break Brandon Marshall's record for receiving yards in a season?
Brandon K.
Streamwood, Illinois
With a team-leading 1,193 yards through 13 games, Alshon Jeffery is on pace for 1,468 this season, which would be 40 yards shy of the Bears-record 1,508 yards Brandon Marshall amassed last season. In terms of the Bears' final three opponents, the Browns are tied for eighth in the NFL in passing yards allowed, while the Eagles are 31st and the Packers are 21st.
Are the Bears still mathematically alive for a wildcard berth or is there only chance of making the playoffs via winning the NFC North?
Steve C.
Indiana
It's still mathematically possible for the Bears to earn a wildcard berth, but you could say the same thing about me winning a Nobel Peace Prize. In other words, it's probably not going to happen. The Bears (7-6) are two games behind the Panthers (9-4) and 49ers (9-4) and one-game behind the Cardinals (8-5) in the race for the two wildcard spots. Plus the Bears have the worst conference record among the four teams, which comes into play as the tiebreaker. So while it's possible that the Bears can still make it into the playoffs as a wildcard, they have a much better chance of winning the division. They are currently tied with the Lions (7-6) and a half-game ahead of the Packers (6-6-1). Detroit owns the tiebreaker due to sweeping the season series, which means that the Bears must make up one game on the Lions with three remaining.
