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Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ is a sports statistics blog published with a focus on stats that go beyond the numbers.

Almost 32 years ago, it was an unseasonable 56 degrees in December in Chicago. That game included a scoreless first quarter, a 28-point second quarter and an interception returned for a touchdown. The final score was 61-7, Bears on top.

Last Sunday’s game in Tennessee included a 28-point first quarter and an interception returned for touchdown. Final score, Bears 51, Titans 20.

The 61-7 win by the Bears over the Green Bay Packers on December 7, 1980 was the last time the Bears had scored 50 or more points in a game… that is until last Sunday when Chicago pushed over the 50-point mark with a 51-20 win over Tennessee. It was an almost 32-year wait to go over the 50-point mark for the Bears, the second-longest 50-point drought in the NFL.

The Denver Broncos currently hold the longest drought for scoring 50 or more points in a game. Denver scored 50 in an October 6, 1963 win over San Diego, but have not reached the 50-point mark since. There are also three franchises — Baltimore, Houston and Tampa Bay — that have yet to score 50 points in a game in their history.

Following are the teams with the longest drought for scoring 50-plus points in a game.

Last year team scored 50-plus points in a game, Teams

1963: Denver

1983: Seattle

1984: Pittsburgh

1986: New York Giants

1990: Tennessee

1993: Dallas

1995: Miami

1997: Detroit

1998: Atlanta, Minnesota

2000: Jacksonville, St. Louis

2002: Carolina

2003: San Francisco

2004: Kansas City, Cincinnati, Indianapolis

2005: Green Bay, Washington

2007: Cleveland

2008: New York Jets, Buffalo, San Diego

2010: Arizona, Oakland, Philadelphia

2011: New Orleans

2012: New England, Chicago

Here’s a couple more stats about the Bears point output this season:

* The Bears have won a game by scoring 13 points (13-7 over Detroit on October 22) and by scoring 51 (this past Sunday). This is the second season since 1966 (start of the Super Bowl era) that the Bears have won a game in a season by scoring less than 15 and by scoring more than 50. The other year: 1980 when they won their last game of the season 14-13 (against Tampa Bay) and won 61-7 versus the Packers in the above-mentioned contest.

* Chicago has won three of their six games this year by scoring 40 or more points in the game. This is the third time since 1966 that they have won three games by scoring 40-plus points in a game. They did it in 2006 and 1986.

* Through their first seven games of the season the Bears have won three games by 20 points or more. This is the eighth season the Bears have won three or more games by 20 or more points. The 1985 and 2006 Bears teams won five games by 20 points or more, most since 1966.

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