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.
Sunday night's win over the 49ers was one of the most momentous Bears wins I have seen. I think this game and the 2006 Arizona were the two greatest Bears comebacks I have witnessed. What Bears comeback win was the greatest you've seen?
Ben L.
Tampa, Florida
Rallying from deficits of 17-0 in the second quarter and 20-7 entering the fourth period on the road against the 49ers was remarkable. I don't think anyone outside the Bears locker room saw it coming. The 2006 game in Arizona may have been even more improbable with the defense and special teams scoring three late TDs to turn a 23-3 deficit into a stunning 24-23 victory. But the most amazing comeback win I've seen by the Bears occurred in 2001 when they rallied to beat the Browns after trailing 21-7 in the final minute of the game. Shane Matthews threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Marty Booker to pull within 21-14 with :28 remaining. The Bears recovered the subsequent onside kick and James Allen caught a 34-yard Hail Mary TD pass from Matthews with no time remaining to force overtime. The Bears then won in overtime as Mike Brown returned an interception 16 yards for a TD. If that series of events wasn't incredible enough, it came one week after Brown had returned an interception 33 yards for a TD in overtime as the Bears rallied from a 28-9 second-half deficit to stun the 49ers 37-31.
During Sunday night's game versus the 49ers, there was a penalty on San Francisco after a long gain. But instead of the next down being first-and-15 or first-and-20 it was actually first-and-one. Did the 49ers get rewarded with nine yards for committing a penalty?
Keith A.
No, they didn't. The play you're referring to occurred late in the first half. On first-and-10 from their own 46, the 49ers scored an apparent touchdown on Frank Gore's 54-yard run. But receiver Anquan Boldin was penalized for holding 19 yards downfield, so that's where the 10-yard penalty was marked off from, resulting in a net gain of nine yards on the play. That's what led to the first-and-one situation.
Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller made a couple of great interceptions Sunday night. He really seems to have excellent ball skills. How many passes did he pick off in college?
Jon S.
St. Louis, Missouri
Kyle Fuller had six interceptions in four seasons at Virginia Tech, recording two in each of his final three years at the school. In other words, he matched his highest season output in college in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's comeback win over the 49ers.
