Bears at Buccaneers: Who Wins and Why
A look at who has the edge in each matchup between the Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneeers position groups with a final prediction on the outcome.
Transcript
00:00 [ Music ]
00:08 The Bears go to Tampa Bay
00:10 without defensive coordinator Alan Williams this week
00:12 because of personal reasons,
00:14 and they'll have Matt Eberfloos calling their defensive signal.
00:16 But he can't do the tackling for them.
00:19 They're going to have to do a better job of it themselves
00:21 than they did last week against Green Bay in the second half.
00:24 It's the Bears and Tampa Bay in week two of the NFL season
00:28 at Raymond James Stadium.
00:29 Here's who wins and why.
00:31 >> The one big edge the Bears have in this game is their special teams play
00:35 as Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin is with his seventh team
00:39 since starting his career in 2019.
00:41 And return man Devin Tompkins had a decent year as a punt
00:44 and kick returner last year, but nothing special.
00:46 Bears punter Trenton Gill might have been their MVP last week.
00:50 Well, also Kyro Santos.
00:52 The teams are fairly even when Tampa runs against the Bears run defense
00:57 after Rashad White gained only 39 yards last week against Minnesota.
01:01 But the Bears run defense was largely inconsistent.
01:05 Decent overall, but allowing too many runs of five to eight yards
01:09 when they could least afford it.
01:10 Another push comes in the coaching area,
01:13 although it's still hard to see how the Buccaneers stick with Todd Bowles
01:16 and his career head coaching record of 35 and 50,
01:20 one winning season in seven.
01:22 But Matt Eberfloos has a lot on his plate this week
01:25 with Alan Williams away, so this is a push.
01:27 [MUSIC]
01:29 In every other way, the Buccaneers own an edge.
01:32 Their passing game isn't initiated by the best thrower Baker Mayfield,
01:36 but he's targeting Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, two quality receivers.
01:40 And the Bears had virtually no pass rush last week
01:43 and gave up too many big plays to inexperienced receivers
01:47 and quarterback Jordan Love.
01:48 The Bears own running game is normally a big advantage,
01:51 but Tampa Bay's defensive front gave Minnesota only 41 rushing yards last week.
01:56 And the Bears' offensive line couldn't even block a quarterback sneak.
02:00 They may need to count on Justin Fields for the rushing yards,
02:04 scrambling against man-to-man defenses on pass plays.
02:07 DJ Morris faced the Buccaneers numerous times,
02:11 but the Bears' passing game looked lost last week and couldn't find more at all.
02:15 While Tampa is without Carlton Davis, their quarterback,
02:19 they have a deep secondary, and their pass rush helps the back end cover.
02:23 They held Kirk Cousins a 173 yards passing last week.
02:27 That's usually a week's worth of catches for Justin Jefferson.
02:31 Then take into account the intangible.
02:35 The heat in Tampa is one big advantage.
02:37 It's like bear weather in Chicago in December.
02:40 Look for a final score of Tampa Bay 24, Bears 16.
02:44 You don't give up 31 points to an inexperienced offense one week.
02:48 And then think you're going to turn it on against a blitzing pressure defense
02:51 like the Buccaneers have. More mistakes and a 12th Street Bears loss look likely.
02:57 [MUSIC PLAYING]