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.
Excuse me for looking ahead, but who are the Bears scheduled to play next season?
Ryan B.
Zion, Illinois
In addition to home and road games against their three NFC North rivals the Lions, Packers and Vikings, the Bears will face the NFC West and AFC West. They're slated to play at home versus the Cardinals, 49ers, Broncos and Raiders and on the road against the Rams, Seahawks, Chiefs and Chargers. In addition, the Bears will host the team that finishes in the same spot in the standings in the NFC East and visit the club that finishes in the same spot in the NFC South.
When was the last time the Bears didn't score 30 or more points in a game for an entire season?
Abraham P.
Albany, New York
The last time the Bears failed to score at least 30 points in a game was 2004 when they finished 5-11 in Lovie Smith's first season as coach. That year they scored 231 points and allowed 331. This season their high-water mark has been 28 points and they've scored 296 points while permitting 409. Last season the Bears scored at least 30 points in six games, going 4-2 in those contests.
I know this has been a very disappointing season, but is there anything positive that's happened?
Steve C.
Downers Grove, Illinois
This is certainly the most disappointing Bears season in recent memory. In terms of the biggest positive, I would say that it's the fact that some promising young players have been getting valuable game reps together on the defensive side of the ball. Kyle Fuller, Brock Vereen, Christian Jones, Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton could develop together into a pretty solid core on that side of the ball in the years to come.
