The Buccaneers have clawed their way back to 3-5, and the path out of the hole has been paved by the run game. Tampa Bay has leaned harder on the ground than any team in the league over the last two weeks, and it has paid off in a pair of blowout wins that suddenly put the NFC South back within reach.
That surge started with a 43-13 rout of the Panthers, when Kenny Gainwell and Bucky Irving powered the offense. Then the two backs came back and posted career-high rushing totals in a soaking wet win over the Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. For a team that had been reeling, those performances were enough to steady everything.
Baker Mayfield has been back for both games, but he hasn’t had to carry much of the load. Over the last two weeks, he has thrown only 14 passes. Given the thumb injury on his throwing hand and the rough start he had after signing his lucrative contract, that lighter workload has made sense.
Still, this week is a different assignment. The Bears are coming off a statement win of their own, having blown out the reigning champion Seahawks on Monday Night Football, and they look like one of the league’s best teams. Tampa Bay can’t expect to win by hiding its quarterback again.
Chicago’s defense is built to make life difficult on the ground. The Bears rank No. 3 against the run, giving up just 87 yards per game, and their front got even stronger with the addition of All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. If the Buccaneers’ rushing attack gets slowed down, the passing game will have to answer.
That’s where Mayfield comes in. Tampa Bay needs more than game management from him here. He’ll have to make the difficult throws and give the offense a chance to stay on schedule if the Bears take away the run.
The matchup on the other side only raises the stakes. Chicago brings an offense that can score in bunches, led by Caleb Williams, who is building a credible MVP case and already looks like an upper-echelon quarterback. He’s working with Ben Johnson, and the Bears figure to attack Tampa Bay’s defense with a clear plan.
If the Buccaneers’ 32nd-ranked passing offense can’t find some rhythm, keeping pace with Chicago could be a problem. Tampa Bay should still try to win the way it has over the past two weeks, by controlling the game on the ground. But this time, it likely needs Mayfield to do more than he has lately.
In Other News...
Todd Bowles Faces A Defining Test Against Chicago's Surging Offense
The Buccaneers are heading into a game that feels like more than a routine NFC matchup, with Todd Bowles set to square off against a Chicago offense that has started to find real rhythm. Tampa Bays defense has been better of late, but this is the kind of test that can quickly expose whether those improvements are sustainable, especially against a Bears group that has been moving the ball with confidence.
Caleb Williams has been a big part of that surge, and the challenge for Bowles is figuring out how to keep Chicago from dictating the pace. On the other side, Ben Johnsons presence on the Bears sideline adds another layer to a matchup already loaded with coaching pressure, because this is the sort of game where adjustments can decide whether Tampa Bay leaves with a statement win or a reminder that the defense still has work to do. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Need Antoine Winfield Jr At His Best This Week
Antoine Winfield Jr. has not had the kind of season the Buccaneers are used to seeing from their free safety, with injuries limiting his impact through five games. Even so, there were signs of a sharper version of Winfield after his recent return, and Tampa Bay is counting on that trend continuing as it heads into a matchup that could demand every bit of his range and instincts.
The Bears bring a passing game that can stress a secondary in a hurry, with Caleb Williams willing to push the ball downfield and a pair of receivers capable of making plays in space. For Tampa Bay, Winfield is the last line of defense, which makes this week less about easing him back in and more about whether he can look like the difference-maker the Buccaneers need him to be. [Read more 🡒]
Bucky Irving Faces A Run Defense That Could Define The Bucs
Bucky Irving has become a central part of Tampa Bays ground game, giving the Buccaneers a steadier and more explosive rushing threat as the offense leans into its improved offensive line. He has been running with the kind of consistency that has helped shape the Bucs identity, and the next test comes against a Chicago defense that has been difficult to move in one sense while still leaving some room for opponents to find daylight.
The Bears bring a front that can make life miserable, with Devin Bush and Jeffery Simmons among the names Tampa Bay has to account for, but the numbers suggest this is a matchup that could say plenty about where the Buccaneers run game really stands. If Irving and the line can handle that challenge, it would be another sign that Tampa Bays rushing attack is no longer just a supporting piece, but something defenses have to game-plan for every week. [Read more 🡒]