The Chicago Bears are set to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9 on Sunday Night Football.
This is a big one before the Bears go on the bye week, as the NFC North division race is heating up. They are facing the Buccaneers at a time when they are heating up, with three wins in their last four games.
We spoke with The Pewter Plank Buccaneers expert, Josh Crysler, about the game and shared some insights on the upcoming game. Here is what Crysler told us before the Bears face the Buccaneers.
5 burning questions Bears fans have before the Week 9 Buccaneers game
Question 1: Last week was obviously a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see the Bucs rush for 324 yards and not complete a pass. How do you expect the Buccaneers to run the football in this game?
"It’s going to be a real challenge for the Bucs to continue their unprecedented success running the football that we’ve seen over the last two weeks. The Bears pose a real challenge, especially after adding Jeffery Simmons. However, Chicago has faced fewer rush attempts than any other team in the league, with opponents averaging just 20 attempts per game.
"The Bucs have averaged 42 attempts in their three wins, more than double what the Bears face on average. So I think there’s a chance Tampa Bay can wear down Chicago’s defense and eventually break some big runs. We won’t see them eclipse over 250 yards like they’ve done in their last two games, but I think the Bucs run game will still be efficient."
Chicago enters the season as the NFL's third-best run defense, allowing just 86.8 yards per game. The Bears are using Simmons to help stop the run, but hope to get support from their linebacker corps, including T.J. Edwards and Devi Bush, to get the job done.
Question 2: Baker Mayfield has not seemed like himself this season. What is going on with him, and how can the Bears make sure he can shut down the way he has for much of the season?
"The entire offense under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has been out of whack. The offense runs primarily through screens and short passes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Not exactly the vertical attack Bucs fans have become accustomed to over the years. Mayfield’s first three games prior to injury were marred by turnovers and inaccuracy. The best way for the Bears to keep him off rhythm is to generate a lot of pressure, speeding up his internal clock and potentially forcing him into mistakes."
Chicago will once again look to Simmons, Montez Sweat, and Austin Booker to lead the way in the pass rush, as the Bears have racked up 19 sacks, tied for 14th in the NFL. The pass defense is also ranked 14th, allowing 219 yards per game, despite having cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson struggling. If the Bears can't get the pass rush they want on Mayfield, the Buccaneers might get their passing game back on track.
Question 3: What is the biggest advantage the Buccaneers have over the Bears in this contest?
"I’d say the Bucs’ elite offensive tackle duo gives them their biggest advantage. Tristan Wirfs is arguably the NFL’s best offensive tackle, and Luke Goedeke is a high-end player as well. That will obviously be a factor in the passing game, but also in the running game. The Bucs will want to run the ball outside, away from Jeffery Simmons on the interior. Assuming Wirfs and Goedeke can win their assignments, running the ball off-tackle to the outside could be where the Buccaneers find the most success."
Among the active Bears edge rushers, Booker, Sweat, and Daniel Hardy have 8.5 sacks in eight games this season. Dayo Odeyingbo has three sacks, but he is on IR. With the offensive tackles being so good, it's more important than ever for the Bears' top three pass rushers to get the job done.
Question 4: What is the biggest disadvantage the Buccaneers have over the Bears in Week 9?
"The biggest disadvantage has to be the linebacker spot. Alex Anzalone has improved in recent weeks after his first few games as a Buccaneer were some of the worst linebacker play I’ve ever seen. If Chicago is willing to attack the middle of the field, Anzalone will be the guy they choose to pick on. I’m especially concerned about Anzalone’s ability to cover Colston Loveland in their one-on-one matchups."
Since Caleb Williams returned from his hamstring injury over the last three games, Loveland has racked up 65, 69, and 65 yards, the three best performances of his season, and has caught two touchdowns. Williams clearly trusts Loveland as one of his top pass-catchers, so the second-year could be in for the best game of his career.
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Question 5: Vita Vea and Bucky Irving are clear X-factors for Tampa Bay against Chicago. Who is an under-the-radar Buccaneers player who could make life miserable for the Bears?
"You asked for one, but I’ll give you two, because they go hand-in-hand. Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish are quietly one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL this year, but nobody outside of Tampa Bay seems to know it. Parrish leads the league with 13 passes defended and has two interceptions.
"McCollum has allowed the lowest opponent passer rating when targeted among all CBs, and also has two interceptions. Both Bucs corners are playing at an All-Pro level, having completely shut down CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase, Tet McMillan, and Drake London this year. They’ll need to keep that trend going to lock down Luther Burden and Rome Odunze, and I think they’re up for the challenge."
The bad news for McCollum and Parrish is that they must cover Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, both of the Bears' leading receivers. Burden has 547 yards and three touchdowns, while Odunze has 468 yards.
Those two had different traits that made them great: Burden had a ton of speed, while Odunze ran clean routes 15 yards downfield and got open. That is a deadly combo for a Bucs secondary that has not faced a wide receiver duo like that this season.
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