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.
Where will the Bears pick in the first round of the 2014 draft?
Dave C.
Muscatine, Iowa
The Bears will have the 14th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft for the fourth time in the last 11 years. They are one of six teams to finish with an 8-8 record, but will draft first among them because they had the weakest strength of schedule. The Bears previously spent the 14th pick on defensive end Michael Haynes in 2003, defensive tackle Tommie Harris in 2004 and tackle Chris Williams in 2008. Guard Ruben Brown, who signed with the Bears as a free agent in 2004, also entered the NFL as the 14th overall pick in the 1995 draft with the Buffalo Bills.
Where did the Bears rank in the NFL in points scored and points allowed? Every game seemed like a shootout, so I'm guessing they were at the top of one category and the bottom of the other.
Tom E.
Evergreen Park, Illinois
The Bears finished the season ranked second in the NFL with 445 points, trailing only the Broncos (606) and just ahead of the Patriots (444) and Eagles (442). The 445 points are second in Bears history behind only the 456 points the 1985 Super Bowl champions scored. Nine of the 11 NFL teams that compiled over 400 points this year made the playoffs, with the Bears and Cowboys the only exceptions. The Bears allowed a team-record 478 points this season, which tied with the Redskins for the second most in the NFL behind the Vikings (480). The most points the Bears had permitted in a season prior to this year was 421 in 1997.
Who are the Bears' 2014 opponents?
Steve K.
Kettering, Ohio
In addition to home and away division games against the Lions (7-9), Packers (8-7-1) and Vikings (5-10-1), the Bears will host the Saints (11-5), Buccaneers (4-12), Bills (6-10), Dolphins (8-8) and Cowboys (8-8) and visit the Falcons (4-12), Panthers (12-4), Patriots (12-4), Jets (8-8) and 49ers (12-4). The Bears play all four teams in the AFC East and NFC South as part of the schedule rotation and face the Cowboys and 49ers because they finished in second place in their respective divisions just like the Bears.
