Chicago Bears Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bold Predictions For Week 10 NFC Matchup

The Chicago Bears travel to sunny Florida this week to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a matchup that features two of the worst NFC teams. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. (ET) with the game set to be televised on Fox.

Chicago (2-6) is coming off their bye week. The Bears snapped a three-game losing streak the previous week, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 20-10 at Soldier Field on October 31. The Bears racked up over 400 yards of total offense as quarterback Jay Cutler returned to the field for the first time since Week 2.

Tampa Bay (3-5) is also coming off its bye week. The Buccaneers have been very inconsistent this year, and they enter Sunday’s game on a two-game losing streak. The Bucs fell to Atlanta 43-28 in their last game as Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan carved up the defense.

Both teams are hoping the extra rest has helped their injured players get healthy. ESPN reported earlier this week that Chicago could get the return services of guards Josh Sitton (ankle) and Kyle Long (triceps), as well as wide receiver Eddie Royal. The Bucs, in the meanwhile, are hoping starting defensive tackle Clinton McDonald can return, as well as running back Doug Martin. Martin has been out since Week 2.

Chicago and Tampa Bay are meeting for the 59th time. The Bears lead the all-time series 38-18 and have won the last three meetings, including last year’s matchup, 26-21, at Raymond James Stadiums as Tampa turned the ball over three times.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will have his best game of the season

Cutler showed no ill effects from missing six games with a right thumb against the Vikings, completing 20-of-31 (64.5 percent) passes for 252 yards along with one touchdown. It was his best game of the season, so it won’t take a whole lot to top those modest numbers.

Cutler is 4-0 in his career versus the Bucs, completing 77-of-120 passes for 739 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

This prediction has a lot more to do with Tampa’s pass defense than Cutler. The Buccaneers are giving up the 27th most yards through the air this year, allowing 281 a game. The Bucs’ secondary has been sliced and diced through for 857 yards along with eight touchdowns the past two games by Atlanta’s Ryan and Oakland’s David Carr.

In total, Tampa has allowed three quarterbacks to top the 300-yard plateau. Opposing quarterbacks also have accumulated a 103.5 rating as they have tossed 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans to have 100-yard receiving game to go with at least one touchdown

Evans is a very dangerous receiver. The 23-year-old has 55-receptions for 745-yards, and a league-high eight touchdowns this year. He has been targeted 105-times. Evans also ranks fourth in the league in receptions, fifth in yards, as well as fourth in receiving yards per game (93.1).

Evans is coming off an 11-reception, 150-yard and two touchdown performance against the Falcons. He now has two double-digit receiving games while also not being held to less than 50 receiving yards in a game this year. Evans has not had a ton of success against the Bears in his career, hauling in seven passes for 107 yards along with one touchdown.

Chicago’s secondary is not among the best, but the Bears are only permitting 238 yards per game (12th best), and opposing quarterbacks have posted a 92.9 rating (18th best). Chicago is allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete a whopping 66.3 completion percentage to go along with 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Three receivers have topped the 100-yard receiving mark this season against the Bears with Green Bay receiver Davante Adams being the last. Adams had a career-best game, catching 13 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns two games ago.

The Bucs will have a hard time getting a running game going

Tampa has major issues at running back with four of their top five running backs on the shelf — Doug Martin (hamstring), Charles Sims (IR), Jacquizz Rogers (foot) and Antoine Smith (IR). There could possibly be good news as Martin practiced on Friday, and will be a game-time decision, according to Jenna Lane of ESPN.

Dirk Koetter said Doug Martin will be a "game-time decision." He still hasn't been… https://t.co/16OrKjytdZ pic.twitter.com/a19kO8o5Vy

— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) November 11, 2016

If Martin is unable to go, rookie Peyton Barber and young veteran Mike James will get the majority of the workload. Barber was limited to 31-yards on 11 carries by the Falcons. He did rack up 84 yards on 12 attempts against San Francisco a few weeks ago.

James has one carry this season for three yards. He totaled 295-yards on 60 carries in eight games in 2013.

Chicago has the 14th best rushing defense, permitting 100.4 yards a game. However, the Bears are 10th in the league allowing only 3.9 yards per attempt. The Bears have not allowed a back to reach the 100-yard mark since Ezekiel Elliot rolled up 140-yards in Week 3.

Chicago will win its first road game of the season.

Chicago is favored by 2.5 points, per Oddsshark. This marks the fifth time that the Bears have been favored the last two years. They are 0-4 in those games. Chicago is also 0-4 in road games, being outscored 109-64 in those contests.

Chicago is averaging 16.4 points a game, which ranks 31st in the league. The Bears have scored 20 or more points twice this year, although both occurrences have come in the past four games. Plus, wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey and running back Jordan Howard are big time threats. Howard is averaging 5.1 yards per game. The 22-year-old is coming off a career-best 159-yards on 26 attempts against the Vikes. He has three 100-yard games, all coming in his last five games.

Tampa is looking for their first win at home (0-4). The Bucs have many issues on defense, giving up 73 points over the last two games. Overall, they have been outscored 137-91 at home.

[Featured Image by Nam Y. Huh/AP Images]