Bucs Chasing 2-0 Start Against Bears

The Tampa Bay Bucs (1-0) and Chicago Bears (0-1) are taking two diverging paths after Week 1 of the NFL season.

Both teams entered the season with a minuscule amount of hope of a playoff run. But a Bucs road win against the former NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings changed the dynamic for their season. As for the Bears, the Green Bay Packers embarrassed a young Bears squad after spending $140 million in free agency.

The Bad News Bears

Justin Fields struggled against the Packers defense. Green Bay had four sacks against an overmatched Bears offensive line.

Things hit the fan for Fields when he threw it straight to Packers linebacker Quay Walker. Walker then bobbed and weaved through the entire Bears offense to the end-zone. Fields needs to avoid the simple mistakes in Tampa Sunday.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles will dial up defensive formations that will try to confused the young quarterback.

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The bears only targeted new addition DJ Moore twice. If the Bears have any chance to win on Sunday, the bears need to feed their highest paid player.

On defense, Chicago needs to tighten up in the secondary. The Packers had three different receivers catch a pass 30 yards or more. A lack of pass rush and blown coverages doomed the Bears on defense last Sunday.

The Bears need to get adequate pressure on Mayfield and avoid the long passes to keep the Bucs’ offense in check.

Scrappy Bucs Team

The Buccaneers showed promise in their Week 1 victory over the Vikings. After a shaky first half, Baker Mayfield showed the team he can be the game manager, which is all that the Bucs require from him. The Bears defense should be an easier test for Mayfield.

After allowing Jordan Love to pass for 245 yards on just 15 completions, the dynamic duo of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are good enough to get behind the Bear’s questionable secondary.

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Tampa’s running attack averaged just 2.2 yards per carry against the Vikings in Week 1, and that number should be similar this Sunday. The bears spent 91.5 million dollars on two linebackers last offseason in TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. While there are still major red flags in the Bears defense, at least they can stop the run.

In order for the Bucs’ defense to succeed they need to limit the Fields scramble. The Bucs forced three Vikings turnovers, including two Kirk Cousins sack fumbles.

Funky blitzes off the edge will limit the Bears offense. But if the Bears are able get the ball to DJ Moore, it could be lethal to the Bucs’ defensive game plan.