Bears vs. Buccaneers key storylines
- Chicago's rolling with Caleb Williams back. The Bears have won three straight since his return from a hamstring injury, scoring at least 30 points in each game without ever trailing. That includes Monday's 34-17 win in Seattle. Chicago has won those games by an average of 10.3 points.
- Who needs a passing game? Tampa Bay beat Atlanta 16-0 last week without completing a single pass, rushing for a franchise-record 324 yards. Bucky Irving contributed 170 yards and Kenny Gainwell added 140. That followed a 30-point blowout of the Panthers in which Baker Mayfield only threw for 64 yards, as the ground-attack generated 258 yards.
- Third-down could decide this one. Chicago's defense has held opponents to a league-best 23.8% conversion rate. Getting Tampa Bay into obvious passing situations would put pressure on an offense with the NFL's lowest team passer rating.
- Swift enters with momentum. D'Andre Swift scored three second-half rushing touchdowns against Seattle. Chicago's ability to finish drives on the ground gives Williams valuable support near the goal line.
- Watch the turnaround and the number. Chicago returns from a Monday night road game to host Sunday night. The Bears are favored in the -6/-6.5 range, a sizable margin against a Buccaneers team coming off consecutive wins. Under Ben Johnson, Chicago is 8-1 against the spread in primetime games. Todd Bowles, however, is just 11-18 straight-up and 10-18-1 ATS in that spot as head coach of the Bucs and Jets.
Bears vs Buccaneers odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Bears -6.5
- Moneyline: Bears -270; Buccaneers +225
- Total: 46.5
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Bears vs Buccaneers USA TODAY expert picks
Adam Kaufman: Bears 27, Buccaneers 20
Tampa Bay just won a game without completing a pass. Fun fact. Probably not the blueprint you want to carry into every Sunday. Chicago is playing with confidence, Caleb Williams looks increasingly comfortable and Ben Johnson's offense has enough balance to avoid making this entirely about the quarterback. The Buccaneers' defense can absolutely create problems, especially if Williams gets careless under pressure, but I expect Chicago to make Tampa Bay sustain more offense than it needed against Atlanta. The Bears' shorter week after visiting Seattle keeps me from projecting a runaway. Still, they should do enough to win a fourth straight and cover the number.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Bears 31, Buccaneers 16
Todd Bowles might need
to conjure another storm to even the playing field. The Buccaneers will surely need more than a 0-3 passing performance from Baker Mayfield to keep up with one of the NFC's most imposing matchups. But it'll be tough for both Mayfield and the run game to ward off Jeffery Simmons, who could once again feast in prime time against a vulnerable interior line. Tampa Bay's defense has picked things up, but slowing Caleb Williams and the rest of Ben Johnson's attack might prove too tall a task for the unit.
Nicholas Brinkerhoff: Bears 27, Buccaneers 17
Can Baker Mayfield complete a pass? Will he even attempt one? Those are the biggest questions for the visitors, especially against everyone's favorite Super Bowl pick this week. It's not like Chicago hasn't earned that honor though, following a trade for Jeffery Simmons. The star defensive tackle could give the Bucs' running game some trouble and that is bad news for a team that doesn't have enough to keep up with this Bears' offense. Better hop on that bandwagon now because it's about to reach capacity.
Where to watch Buccaneers at Bears
- Matchup: Bears vs. Buccaneers
- Date: Nov. 8
- Time: 8:20 p.m.
- Venue: Soldier Field
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- TV: NBC, Peacock
Buccaneers at Bears upated injury report
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Buccaneers at Bears: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 9 game
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