Connect with us
Home » news » week 12 preview bucs at bears

News

Week 12 Preview: Bucs at Bears

Published

on

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-8) at Chicago Bears (4-6)

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at Soldier Field, Chicago – TV: FOX

*TV announcers: Thom Brennaman, David Diehl, Laura Okmin

*Keys to the game: Takeaways were the hallmark of the Bears under former head coach Lovie Smith, but neither Chicago nor Smith’s current team, Tampa Bay, is forcing turnovers these days.

The Bears are intimately familiar with Bucs QB Josh McCown, who started five games (13 touchdowns, one interception) for Chicago last season. McCown and WR Mike Evans are becoming a tough cover for most teams. Evans leads the NFL with 458 receiving yards and five touchdowns in November.

The Bucs are built to stop the run first, but with 11 sacks in their two wins, Tampa will be creative trying to rattle QB Jay Cutler.

Neither offensive line is stockpiled with All-Pros, and Cutler was effective last week with a floating pocket and more short drops.

*Matchup to watch – Bears RB Matt Forte vs. Bucs LB Lavonte David. Forte leads the Bears in rushing (733 yards) and receiving (67 catches) and will create matchup issues for the Bucs. David is among the NFL’s leading tacklers but has not produced a sack, fumble or interception this season.

*Player spotlight – Bucs RB Charles Sims: Scouts in the Bucs’ building saw Forte when they broke down Sims’ game before last spring’s draft. He’s working behind a marginal blocking front, but if Sims hits the second level, Sunday could be a breakout game.

*Fast facts: Smith was 81-63 as coach of the Bears, including 10-6 in 2012 when he was fired and replaced by Marc Trestman. … Cutler is fifth in the NFL with a 67.0 completion percentage, which would be the best of his career.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

While not mirror images, the similarities and familiarity between the Bucs and Bears should set up a tight game.

*Our pick: Bears 28-27

Since 1987, the Sports Xchange has been the best source of information and analysis for the top professionals in the sports publishing & information business

News

Buccaneers admit mistake, boot Aguayo

Published

on

In the NFL, it’s always better to admit a mistake than to compound it. For the Buccaneers, the decision to burn a 2016 second-round pick on kicker Robert Aguayo has proven to be a mistake. The Buccaneers made the definitive admission of their error on Saturday, cutting Aguayo. He exits with $428,000 in fully-guaranteed salary [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

News

Did Bucs put too much pressure on Aguayo?

Published

on

After the Buccaneers surprised everyone by taking a kicker with the 59th overall pick in the draft, G.M. Jason Licht explained the move by heaping superlatives on the player. “I was very excited along with my staff and coaches about Roberto for a very long time,” Licht told PFT Live in May 2016. “It’s not [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

News

Broncos holding their breath on Derek Wolfe

Published

on

Only two days after losing Billy Winn for the year with a torn ACL, the Broncos are now sweating out another potentially serious injury along the defensive line. Via multiple reports, Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe was carted off the field during practice on Saturday. It’s being described as a right ankle injury by coach [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

The NFL On Twitter


Insiders On Facebook

Trending Now

Copyright © 2021 Insider Sports, Inc