The Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both have losing records, so their Week 10 matchup likely doesn’t have many immediate implications. But with the NFC wild card race looking wide open this season, a win would help keep the 3-5 Bucs in the hunt, while the Bears would just be happy to stay respectable after starting the year 2-6.
Bears vs. Buccaneers 2016 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Bucs will need a win at home this week to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
The Bucs were showing some signs of life after a two-game winning streak brought them up to 3-3, but they’ve since dropped two games in a row and have fallen to third place in the NFC South, behind the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. Atlanta easily avenged its Week 1 loss to the Bucs, with a 43-28 blowout win last Thursday night. Matt Ryan carved up the Bucs defense with 344 yards and four touchdowns on 25-of-34 passing, while Julio Jones had his way with eight catches, 111 yards, and a touchdown.
Tampa’s running game has been on fumes with Doug Martin, Charles Sims, and Jacquizz Rodgers all injured. They suffered yet another loss when Antone Smith was lost for the year with a knee injury in last week’s game. The good news is that Martin finally returned to practice this week after missing nearly the whole season with a hamstring injury (he hasn’t played since Week 2). The Bucs badly need Martin back because he makes this offense go, but they’ll likely be cautious, since he suffered multiple setbacks with the injury this year.
The good news for the Bucs is that wide receiver Mike Evans exited the league’s concussion protocol on Thursday and is cleared to play. Tampa absolutely couldn’t afford to miss him. He’s been the only reliable target for Jameis Winston, who’s going through quite the sophomore slump with nine interceptions and three lost fumbles in eight starts. If the Bucs have any hopes of playing meaningful football in December, they’ll have to get healthy on offense in a hurry -- particularly since their defense can’t stop anybody.
The Bears are pretty much playing out the string already, but with Jay Cutler back under center they could yet surprise some teams. They certainly surprised the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8, with the defense blasting Minnesota’s makeshift offensive line and running back Jordan Howard putting on a show. Howard ripped off 202 total yards and a touchdown on 30 touches (26 carries, four catches) and Cutler avoided mistakes as the Bears cruised to a 20-10 win, just their second of the season.
Now coming off their bye week, the Bears remain in the basement of the NFC North. Although the Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions are all clustered together at the top, Chicago has little hope of making a serious run in the second half of the season. That said, head coach John Fox has them playing hard (particularly on defense, which is performing above its talent level) and Cutler’s return should at least give the offense some life. The Bears aren’t a good team, but opponents would be foolish to completely dismiss them down the stretch.
How to watch
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Place: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
TV: FOX
Announcers: Dan Hellie, David Diehl, Holly Sonders
Online: Sunday Ticket, Fox Sports GO
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