The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trying to keep their recent surge rolling, but the Bucs Nation staff isn’t buying a road upset in Chicago.
Tampa Bay heads into Week 9 at 3-5 after a 16-0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons, a win that gave the Buccaneers back-to-back victories. That stretch has come with a better rushing attack and a defense that has picked up its play in recent weeks.
Chicago has been moving in the opposite direction record-wise, sitting at 6-2 and coming off a 34-17 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. The Bears have won three straight and will have home-field support when they face Tampa Bay on Sunday night.
Even with the Buccaneers showing signs of life, all four Bucs Nation writers are predicting a Bears win. The consensus is that Tampa Bay can keep it close, but not close enough to leave Chicago with a victory.
Evan Wanish has Chicago on top, 21-17. Mike Kiwak sees a 24-17 Bears win. Gil Arcia has it 27-17, while Will Walsh is calling for Chicago to win 25-19.
The common thread in those picks is Tampa Bay’s offense, especially its passing game, which the staff believes could have trouble matching Chicago’s pace.
So the question is simple: can the Buccaneers keep the streak alive and prove the predictions wrong, or will the Bears send them home with a sixth loss?
Kickoff is set for Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
In Other News...
Baker Mayfields Turnover Night Made This Bears Loss Sting Even More
The turnovers piled up early and often in a game that looked messy even by NFL standards, with Caleb Williams and Baker Mayfield combining for six interceptions in the Bears-Buccaneers matchup. For Tampa Bay, Mayfields night was especially frustrating because several of the mistakes came at moments when the Bucs still had a chance to seize control, turning what should have been a manageable road game into a slog.
Chicago still found a way to survive the chaos, and that is what makes the result sting for Tampa Bay. Even with the giveaways, the Bears were able to close it out in the fourth quarter, leaving the Buccaneers to sort through a loss that felt there for the taking after so many opportunities slipped away. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Wasted A Rare Edge And Now The Offense Is Under Fire
The Buccaneers walked out of Chicago with a loss that felt especially hard to swallow because the defense did so much to hand them an opening. Tampa Bay forced five turnovers in a 27-24 defeat, yet the offense managed only 10 points off those takeaways, a gap that loomed larger as the game wore on and the record slipped to 3-6. Bucky Irving provided one of the few bright spots with two touchdowns in his hometown, while Jamel McCollum came away with two interceptions in a game that should have tilted Tampa Bays way.
Instead, the offense kept leaving points on the field, and the postgame frustration landed on both the execution and the decision-making around it. Todd Bowles and Zac Robinson now have to answer for an attack that could not cash in on rare defensive help, and the latest loss only sharpened the scrutiny on how this group is being managed when the game is there to be taken. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Backfield Suddenly Has A Sunday Night Fantasy Twist
Sunday nights matchup between the Buccaneers and Bears has a DFS angle that goes beyond the usual quarterback and receiver debate, with kickers and backfield usage suddenly carrying real weight. Cairo Santos and Chase McLaughlin both stand out as captain options in a game that could tilt toward efficiency rather than fireworks, while the running back situation has become one of the more interesting parts of the slate for Tampa Bay and Chicago alike.
Kenny Gainwell and Bucky Irving are the names drawing the most attention in the backfield discussion, especially after Gainwells recent workload spike and strong rushing performance. On the other side of the ball, Rome Odunze remains a player to watch because his snap share and red-zone involvement can turn a modest role into DFS value quickly, which is exactly the kind of wrinkle that can shape a Sunday night lineup. [Read more 🡒]