Buccaneers game day is approaching, and it’s time for the PewterReport.com staff to offer up its weekly game predictions. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

WHEN: Thursday, October 8, 2020
KICKOFF: 8:20 p.m. ET | 7:20 p.m. CT
WHERE: Soldier Field
TV: FOX/NFL
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Joe Buck
ANALYST: Troy Aikman
SIDELINE: Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink
STREAMING: Amazon
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Hannah Storm
ANALYST: Andrea Kremer
RADIO: 98ROCK 97.9 FM
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff
ANALYST: Dave Moore
SIDLINE: T.J. Rives

Join PR’s Matt Matera on PewterReport.com’s Red Board to talk Bucs football for a live game day chat, starting at noon. on Sunday all the way through to the final whistle. Click the link below to access the Game Day Thread on the Red Board.

***PR OFFICIAL GAME DAY THREAD: BUCS AT BEARS

Scott Reynolds: Bucs Win A Close Win In Chicago

I would like the Bucs big in this game if Tampa Bay’s offense was close to full strength. Instead this is a M*A*S*H unit with the team’s top four receivers – Mike Evans (ankle), Chris Godwin (hamstring), Scotty Miller (groin) and Justin Watson (chest) – not practicing this week. Throw in the fact that tight end O.J. Howard is lost for the year with an Achilles tendon rupture, and that running backs Leonard Fournette (ankle) and LeSean McCoy (ankle) are game-time decisions and points for Tampa Bay will be at a premium. This game is going to be closer than it should be, but I think the Bucs prevail.

Bucs TE O.J. Howard and RT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

I originally had this game down as a loss for Tampa Bay in my initial preseason predictions, and it could wind up that way if Chicago’s defense forces turnovers and creates points off of them. Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and edge rusher Khalil Mack will be a handful for the right side of the Bucs offensive line – guard Alex Cappa and rookie tackle Tristan Wirfs – and keeping them at bay will be key for Tampa Bay’s offense. Chicago having Nick Foles at quarterback doesn’t scare me, as Tampa Bay dispatched him pretty quickly in Jacksonville last December, as the Jaguars put in Gardner Minshew in relief. I could see the same thing happening on Thursday night with the more mobile Mitchell Trubisky coming in to replace Foles in the second half after Todd Bowles pressures Foles into some first half mistakes.

The key for the Bucs will be able to run the ball and use play action, and tight ends Cam Brate and Rob Gronkowski need to be steady, reliable weapons for Tom Brady all night. I think Evans, Miller and Watson all play on Thursday night, and that helps the Bucs pull out a low-scoring, close win as Bowles’ defense rebounds from a sub-par outing against Los Anegles. For more pre-game analysis, be sure to check out my Bucs at Bears – 4 Match-ups To Watch article.

Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Buccaneers 26, Bears 17
Reynolds’ Season Record: 4-0

Mark Cook: Bucs Grind Out An Ugly Win

My fellow Tampa natives will remember a television commercial that used to run locally from Allied Discount Tires in the 1970’s and 80’s. Spokesman Sam Behr used to say, “Tires ain’t pretty!” Well, I have a feeling about 11:30 p.m. on Thursday night most of us will be saying the same thing about the Bucs game we just watched. Not about tires – but about the game itself. For those thinking this will be a thing of beauty, they might want to flip the channel and look for re-runs of Charlie’s Angels instead.

Bucs OC Byron Leftwich and QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The walking wounded Buccaneers are beat up and will be missing some key contributors as well as some that will be less than 100 percent. The good news is – the Bears aren’t a great football team despite their 3-1 record. They might not even be a good football team. Even bruised and battered, the Buccaneers should win the game on the road, it just won’t be a masterpiece. And that’s okay. Every team in the NFL – at least the good ones – will have a couple games that while not aesthetically pleasing, are just as effective as any “W” they manage during a season. Good teams find a way to beat teams that they are better than.

Expect the Bucs offense to struggle without wide receiver Chris Godwin, tight end O.J. Howard, possibly running back Leonard Fournette among others, and we may see more three-and-outs than we have seen in the previous four games – and that’s okay. Play smart, don’t turn the ball over, and let the defense feast on a Bears offense that while not nearly as banged up as Tampa Bay’s, just isn’t very good. Sometimes you just have to say, “Tires (football wins) ain’t pretty!” And fly home with an ugly win to get to 4-1.

Cook’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 20, Bears 16
Cook’s Season Record: 3-1

Jon Ledyard: These Bucs Can Win Ugly, Too

I don’t think the Chicago Bears are complete frauds, although I don’t see them as playoff contenders, either. Their defense is no joke, as stingy in coverage as they are good at impacting the pocket with their pass rush. The Bears don’t give up a ton of big plays and they can turn you over defensively, while not coughing it up on offense as much as you may think given their quarterback woes.

Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But that’s where we come to the remarkable difference between the two teams: the Bucs are simply quarterbacked by a far superior player. Nick Foles may be an upgrade over Mitch Trubisky, and he’s certainly capable of pulling off a dramatic upset at times, but does this Bears team have the firepower to dent a Bucs defense looking to rebound from their worst outing of the season? I don’t see it.

The Bucs banged up offense may not put up 38 points this week, but Tom Brady can guide them on a few scoring drives, and that may be more than Foles is capable of in Chicago. The Bucs won’t pull away early, but they’ll feel in control most of the way.

Ledyard’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 23, Bears 13
Ledyard’s Season Record: 4-0

Matt Matera: Bucs Jump Out To Lead And Don’t Look Back

The short week couldn’t have come at a worse time for a Bucs team that is injury-plagued on the offensive side of the ball. Not only have their top four receivers not been practicing, but it looks like the Bucs could be down to just two running backs that are ready to go for Thursday. If Mike Evans or Scotty Miller are out, I expect running back Ke’Shawn “Sneak” Vaughn to be a factor in the passing game again. One game is too small of a sample size, but Tom Brady wasn’t afraid to target the rookie when he got playing time.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

A lot will be made of the big plays that the Bucs’ defense allowed in Sunday’s win, but let’s not forget that only seven points were scored on Tampa Bay in the second half. I’m confident that the defense will bounce back, and Sean Murphy-Bunting picks his game up. The Bears scored just 11 points last week, so with Carlton Davis III shutting down Allen Robinson, the Bucs will make it difficult for Nick Foles to find other ways to drive down the field.

Matera’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Bears 17
Matera’s Season Record: 4-0

Taylor Jenkins: Bucs Battle Through Injuries For Another Win

Heading into Chicago to face the Bears on Thursday Night Football, the biggest thing holding the Bucs back at this point in the season is injuries. While they remain overwhelmingly healthy on the defensive side of the ball, both LeSean McCoy and Leonard Fournette are currently dealing with ankle injuries, O.J. Howard has been ruled out for the season and the Bucs’ top four wide receivers all nursing one injury or another.

Bucs DC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs are hopeful that most of their weapons will be able to make it through the game on Thursday however, where Tampa Bay enters the superior team regardless. The Bears’ offense will be looking to find their form in Nick Foles’ second start as Chicago is currently ranked 27th in the NFL in offensive DVOA, where the Bucs rank seventh through four weeks. And while Chicago’s success is largely dependent on their defense, Tampa Bay has been about as good as anyone else on that side of the ball this year despite a few lapses on Sunday against Los Angeles.

With two solid defenses set to square off, I’ve got to take the Bucs and Tom Brady over the Nick Foles-led Bears if it ultimately comes down to one offense that has to get the job done. With the Bucs’ sporting the second-best rush defense (and overall defense) in the league according to DVOA, a lot of the pressure will fall on Foles and wide receiver Allen Robinson II to keep up with Tampa Bay. And unfortunately for Foles, I’m not sure he has the ability or the weapons at his disposal to best Brady in another battle of the signal-callers, reminiscent of their last meeting in Super Bowl LII, especially against a strong and healthy Bucs defense.

Jenkins’ Score Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Bears 16
Jenkins’ Season Record: 4-0

For more insight into Thursday night’s Bucs at Bears game, make sure to listen to the NEW episode of the Pewter Report Podcast.

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