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Chalk Talk

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 every day on ChicagoBears.com.

For all the outcry over the lack of experience at the receiver position during the offseason, the Bears receivers appear to be the strength of the team, or at least playing the most consistently thus far. How do the receivers compare statistically to last season’s receivers after three games?

Jacob
Brooklyn, New York

Bears wide receivers have been much more productive through three games this season than they were last year. Devin Hester (13 receptions for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns), Earl Bennett (13-168-0) and Johnny Knox (9-159-2) have combined to catch 35 passes for 514 yards and 4 TDs. Last season Bears receivers Brandon Lloyd (13-216), Rashied Davis (8-58), Hester (2-13) and Marty Booker (2-11) combined to catch 25 passes for 298 yards and 1 TD in the first three games.

In Sunday’s win, Brad Maynard shanked an 11-yard punt. It seemed that the Bears would have a chance to kick the ball again because there were offsetting penalties on the play. Can you explain why the Seahawks declined a penalty against the Bears and accepted the one that was called against them?

Matt
Chicago

It was a pretty confusing scenario, but here’s what happened: On Brad Maynard’s 11-yard punt, the Bears were penalized for having an illegal man downfield and the Seahawks were flagged for holding. Offsetting penalties would have resulted in a re-kick. But because the punt was so poor, the Seahawks declined the penalty against the Bears, which resulted in the holding call against Seattle being the only infraction on the play. It was a pretty smart move by the Seahawks because they were able to take over 21 yards from the previous line of scrimmage (the 11-yard punt plus the 10-yard holding penalty) rather than giving Maynard another opportunity to punt the ball.

When was the last time all four NFC North teams recorded victories on the same weekend?

Joey
Melbourne, Australia

All four NFC North teams won on Sunday for the first time since Week 10 of the 2005 season when the Bears defeated the 49ers 17-9, the Vikings beat the Giants 24-21, the Lions defeated the Cardinals 29-21 and the Packers beat the Falcons 33-25. On Sunday, the Vikings rallied to stun the 49ers 27-24, the Packers hammered the Rams 36-17 and the Lions snapped their 19-game losing streak with a 19-14 win over the Redskins. 

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