The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face their biggest challenge of the season in Week 9, going on the road to take on the Super Bowl-contending Chicago Bears in prime time.
It’s a true measuring stick game to see if the Bucs are for real after winning three of their last four contests. Tampa Bay is red-hot, but they haven’t faced a team like the Bears yet.
The Buccaneers will need to play their best game of the season if they want to go into Chicago and take down the Bears. Here are three bold predictions for Tampa Bay ahead of a potential statement game.
3 bold predictions for Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Chicago Bears
Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell combine for 150 rushing yards
The Buccaneers lead the NFL in rushing defense, allowing just 80 yards per game, but the Bears aren’t far behind, ranking third with only 87 yards per game allowed on the ground.
That defense is even more stout now after the blockbuster trade for All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Tampa Bay will have their hands full trying to establish the run against this Chicago defense.
The one caveat? Chicago hasn’t faced a rushing offense as dominant as the Buccaneers’ yet. Tampa Bay enters this week as the NFL’s No. 1 rushing attack, averaging 168 yards per game.
In recent weeks, they’ve discovered the perfect formula with Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell . The duo combined for 310 yards last week against a Falcons rushing defense that entered the week ranked No. 4 in the NFL.
The Bucs could similarly get the best of another top run defense this week, and while I’m not calling for another 300-yard day on the ground, I’m predicting Irving and Gainwell to combine for 150 yards against the Bears.
Baker Mayfield finally has a breakout game
Baker Mayfield has played in only five games this season, missing three due to a dislocated thumb injury. In the games he has played, he’s been underwhelming, if not downright awful.
The last two weeks haven’t required Mayfield to do much of anything. He finished 7-of-11 for just 64 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers in Week 7, and that was all it took to win. In last week’s victory over the Falcons, he didn’t complete a single pass, and yet the Buccaneers won in dominant fashion —the first time a team has won without a completion since 1974.
That won’t be the case against the Bears. As previously mentioned, Chicago boasts an elite run defense, but they also have an explosive offense. The Bears rank No. 3 in yards per game while scoring 27 points per game.
Tampa Bay will need to figure out their passing attack to keep up with this Bears offense. I’m predicting Baker Mayfield comes through with his best game of the year in primetime, eclipsing 200 passing yards and throwing two touchdowns for the first time this season.
Buccaneers defense picks off Caleb Williams (twice)
The Buccaneers defense forces turnovers at an incredible rate. They lead the league in total takeaways (16) and interceptions (12).
But this week’s opponent, Caleb Williams, limits interceptions better than anybody. He owns the NFL record for fewest interceptions thrown through his first 1,000 pass attempts.
He’s thrown only one this season, and just broke Aaron Rodgers’ record for most consecutive games (36) with 20-plus completions and no more than one interception. Can the Buccaneers end that historic streak on Sunday night?
Williams is elite at protecting the football and making smart decisions, but if the Buccaneers want to pull off the upset, they’ll need to find a way to take the ball away. The defense has forced turnovers all year long, and Sunday night against the Bears can’t be any different.
I’m predicting Tampa Bay’s defense to force Caleb Williams into some rare mistakes and come away with two interceptions.
Final Score Prediction: Buccaneers 23 - Bears 20
If the Buccaneers can make my three bold predictions come to fruition by establishing a strong run game, getting Baker Mayfield and the passing game into a rhythm, and forcing two turnovers defensively, that should be enough to pull off a major upset against the Bears.
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