Caleb Williams gave Tampa Bay every opening it could have asked for in the second quarter, and the Buccaneers still walked into halftime trailing 17-6.
Chicago’s quarterback was sharp early and had the Bears rolling toward what looked like a comfortable cushion. Then the turnovers arrived in bunches. Williams threw three interceptions in the second quarter alone, including one on second-and-21 when he was looking for Rome Odunze in the end zone and Tykee Smith jumped the route for the pick.
Even then, the Bucs couldn’t make the Bears pay. After Smith’s interception, Baker Mayfield was stuffed on a QB sneak on fourth-and-1 from Tampa Bay’s own 35, handing the ball right back.
Williams then tried a downfield throw while taking a hit, and Zyon McCollum came down with it. Tampa Bay again came away empty, punting after the takeaway.
Williams’ third interception came on what appeared to be a throwaway, but McCollum dove for the ball and initially picked it off before the play was overturned on review.
The only points Tampa Bay got from those three Chicago giveaways came at the very end of the half. Chase McLaughlin knocked through a 21-yard field goal as time expired, after Todd Bowles chose not to chase a touchdown with :03 left.
So instead of flipping the game, the Buccaneers squeezed out just three points from three second-quarter takeaways.
Mayfield, coming off a week in which he didn’t complete a pass in a victory, is 11-of-19 for 139 yards with an interception. Tampa Bay has also struggled to stay on schedule, going just 1-of-6 on third down.
Williams has still piled up production despite the mistakes, going 14-of-23 for 193 yards with two touchdowns and three picks. It’s his first multi-turnover game since Week 3 of his rookie season in 2024, and he had never thrown three interceptions in a pro game before Sunday night.
Luther Burden has been a bright spot for Chicago with three catches for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Rome Odunze has four receptions for 60 yards and a score.
The Bears have been efficient on third down, converting 6-of-7, and they’ll get the ball to start the second half with a chance to keep control.
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Bucky Irving has become a central piece of Tampa Bays rushing attack, giving the Buccaneers a more reliable ground game and helping balance an offense that has leaned on his burst and efficiency. He has averaged 5.0 yards per carry and has turned in multiple 100-yard games recently, a stretch that has made the run game look more like a strength than a supplement.
The next test comes against Chicago, and it is the kind of matchup that can say a lot about where this offense really stands. The Bears are giving up very few rushing yards overall, but they have been more vulnerable on a per-carry basis, and Tampa Bays improved offensive line will have to sort out a defensive front featuring players such as Devin Bush and Jeffery Simmons if Irving is going to keep the momentum going. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Backfield Suddenly Has A Sunday Night Fantasy Twist
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Chase McLaughlin is getting a look as a captain option, and Cairo Santos belongs on the short list as well given the way both teams have been producing value through the kicking game. There is also room for Rome Odunze to matter if his usage keeps trending the right way, especially with the red-zone opportunities that can turn a modest snap count into a DFS difference-maker. For Buccaneers fans, the bigger question is whether this game stays in the range where the backfield and the special teams can decide more than the headline names. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers About To Face Chicago's Toughest Test Yet
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The bigger question is whether Tampa Bay can answer with its own identity intact, especially if the Bears turn this into a game where the Bucs are forced out of their comfort zone. Colston Loveland is also being pegged for his best outing of the year, which would only add to the pressure on a Buccaneers defense already facing a tough test, and the outcome may hinge on whether Chicago can keep Bucky Irving from getting loose on the ground. [Read more 🡒]