CHGO Staff Predictions: Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After a challenging week that started with a beatdown by the Packers, the Chicago Bears are back at it again. Week 2 brings a road date with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that is moving on from the Tom Brady era by tapping the services of Baker Mayfield.

Tampa Bay sprung a surprise Week 1 win in Minnesota and now return to Florida for their home opener. Can the Bears upset their party and reverse the course of the season?

Here are our picks for Week 2:

Adam Hoge (0-1) — Bears 24, Bucs 21

I’m giving this team one more week before full panic sets in. This game has Week 1 overreaction/Week 2 correction written all over it. The Bucs are not as good as they showed in Minnesota last week (although the defense probably is) and the Bears are not as bad as they showed against the Packers. 

Will DeWitt (0-1) — Buccaneers 24, Bears 20

Doing my best to keep a level head after last week’s beatdown, but it’s hard to put that one completely in the rearview right now. I expect the Bears to clean things up, but I just can’t confidently say they’ll be able to put it all together in time to come away on top. Please, prove me wrong. I really don’t want to be right about this.

Corey Wootton (0-1) — Buccaneers 31, Bears 24

Too many issues in  coverage. The Bucs offense will exploit those issues with their talented WR core. Offense will play better, but defensively there are too many issues. 

Greg Braggs, Jr. (0-1) — Buccaneers 31, Bears 23

As much as I pray for the bounce back game. This is a bad matchup for a Bears team still finding themselves. The Buccaneers defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles, will be relentless with the blitz. Which means the Bears offense will have to run a very similar offense to Week 1. Screens, screens and more screens. Sounds fun, right? The Bucs defense is also predicated on stopping the run. Something the Bears offense would love to lean on as the passing game slowly builds some confidence. Add that with the injury to Kyler Gordon in the Bears secondary which means veteran wide receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, will find themselves in favorable matchups. Oh yea, and the defensive line hasn’t proven it can get any pressure on the quarterback. Forecast calls for rain but regardless of precipitation, it’s always hot and humid in Tampa Bay, which presents more problems for a Bears team not used to those conditions. The real storm is starting form over Halas Hall if the Bears can’t find a way to win this game. My advice? Pray.

Nicholas Moreano (0-1) — Buccaneers 17, Bears 14

The Bears’ loss the the Packers was concerning on so many levels. All of which I won’t get into because we could be here all day. This Week 2 matchup with the Bucs also concerns me. The Bucs will bring the blitz throughout the entirety of the game. I don’t know how this Bears offensive line and Justin Fields handle that type of pressure on Sunday. I really wanted to pick the Bears to calm down the panic that is going on in Chicago, but I think that chaos, unfortunately, continues for one more week.

Mark Carman (0-1) – Buccaneers 23, Bears 20

The Bears look a lot better. Justin Fields connects with DJ Moore 6 times. Fields also crosses runs for 75 yards. But the Bucs D gets a couple key turnovers that sink the Bears to 0-2.

Kevin Kaduk (0-1) — Buccaneers 24, Bears 16

Maybe there’s a course correction in the offing, but there’s no way I’m putting faith in the Bears after seeing all of the problems on both sides of the ball and then watching the team struggle to provide answers during the week. The Buccaneers might not be world beaters but their defense is more than good enough to make it a hot and hellish Florida day for Justin Fields and the Bears.

Jake Flannigan (0-1) — Bears 27, Buccaneers 13

Throw out everything you thought you knew about the Bears. They are not who we thought they were. An opportunistic defense in symphony with a quick-tempo, vertically charged offense, re-energizes the locker room and a bushwhacked fan base. Hope is alive and well.