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.
The Bears seem to have been stellar on Monday Night Football in recent years. What is their overall record on MNF?
Michael S.
Eugene, Oregon
The Bears are 26-35 since the inception of Monday Night Football in 1970. That includes 14-11 at home and 12-24 on the road. The Bears are 10-3 since 2006 after going 4-14 from 1991-2003, which included an eight-game losing streak. The Bears are 2-0 against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, winning 22-6 at Soldier Field in 1996 and 34-18 at Cowboys Stadium last season.
How come no one is talking about the correlation between Lance Briggs getting injured and the Bears run defense falling off a cliff? Will Lance be back for Dallas?
Ralph
Schaumburg, Illinois
Unfortunately, Lance Briggs is still recovering from the fractured shoulder he suffered Oct. 20 against the Redskins and has been ruled out of Monday night's game against the Cowboys. You're certainly right about Briggs and the run defense. After allowing an average of 102 yards on the ground in their first six games, the Bears have permitted an average of 205 in their last six contests, including 246 last Sunday against the Vikings and 258 the previous week versus the Rams.
With his 80-yard touchdown against the Vikings, how close did Alshon Jeffery come to setting a record for the longest reception in Bears history?
Barry S.
Chicago, Illinois
Not very close. The longest pass play in Bears history remains a 98-yard touchdown from Bill Wade to Bo Farrington on Oct. 8, 1961 in a 31-17 road win over the Detroit Lions. Alshon Jeffery's 80-yarder was the Bears' longest since Caleb Hanie's 81-yard pass to Johnny Knox on Nov. 27, 2011 in a road loss to the Oakland Raiders.
