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BUCCANEERS at BEARS

WHEN: Sunday, November 8, 2026 | WHERE: Soldier Field | KICKOFF: 8:20 p.m. ET | TV: NBC

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Mike Tirico | ANALYST: Cris Collinsworth | SIDELINE: Melissa Stark

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Tony Castricone | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: Jay Recher

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Bucs Pull Off Another Primetime Upset

I swear I’m not drunk as I write this. Haven’t had a drop of alcohol on this Friday – at least not yet. But this Tampa Bay team has me punch drunk right now the way it is winning in the trenches on both sides of the line of scrimmage. It will take a game as physical as what we saw out this Bucs offensive line (and the tight ends) and from the defense versus the Falcons to win in Chicago. The Bears are the best team the Bucs will have faced to date and are more formidable in the trenches, too.

Bucs K Chase McLaughlin and LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

I’m going on blind faith that Baker Mayfield and the passing game can be better than what we’ve seen so far. Zac Robinson has had weeks behind the scenes to retool the passing attack and I hope it’s functioning better than it was during the first three weeks of the season when healthy. But I know the Bucs can run the ball. Maybe not for 240 yards as they have in wins over the Cowboys, Panthers and Falcons. But I think Bucky Irving and Co. can produce at least 120 yards against a stout Bears defense.

This game will come down to turnover margin. Mayfield has to protect the ball and Todd Bowles’ defense has to take it away. The interception streak has to extend to seven straight games by registering at least one pick on Caleb Williams. And Tampa Bay’s pass rush has to get after Williams and make life miserable for him. I’m looking at you, David Walker. Call me crazy, but nobody thought this team would win in Dallas or Carolina – yet they did. The Bucs are the new Road Warriors and win it with a Chase McLaughlin field goal.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 23, Bears 20
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 3-5

Matt Matera: Bucs Get Brought Back To Reality In Loss

It’s been a ton of fun watching the Bucs demolish their fellow NFC South residents in the last two weeks. Their wins have brought a breath of fresh air to this team with a legitimate chance to reach the postseason. But let’s remember, we call the NFC South “crap hill” for a reason. 

The Bucs play against a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the Bears. As great as Tampa Bay’s defense has been playing, the Bears offense is another animal. Pun intended. If the Bucs are going to slow down Chicago, they have to protect the middle of the field. They’ll need a huge game from Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, along with linebackers Alex Anzalone and Josiah Trotter. 

Bucs ILBs Alex Anzalone and Josiah Trotter – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Unless the Bucs can continually get turnovers, I don’t see how the Bucs keep up. It’s true that their running game has been astounding, but reaching over 300 yards – and maybe even 200 yards – again feels unreasonable. Tampa Bay struggles to complete the forward pass in 2026. All of a sudden this is the week they figure it out? I think not. The Bucs get throttled by the Bears and the realization settles in that there’s still a lot to fix this season.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bears 30, Bucs 17
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 5-3

Adam Slivon: Bucs Put Up Admirable Fight, Fall Short To Bears In Primetime

The time has come for the Bucs to prove themselves against an opponent that does not play in the NFC South. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, that means traveling to Chicago and taking on the 6-2 Bears. I believe they are a team that has played better than their 3-5 record indicates, but that doesn’t lessen what has held them back from winning more games. The offense has achieved historic success on the ground, and while it has made for an entertaining watch, it also reveals just how one-dimensional they have been this season.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Zac Robinson must incorporate throwing the football within his offense, especially as much of the conversation this week at the AdventHealth Training Center has been about the game-wrecking impact Jeffery Simmons makes up front. It’s hard to know what to expect if the running lanes are hard to come by, as the offense has failed to put together a consistent passing attack this season.

Defensively, I have confidence in Todd Bowles’ unit and the problems it can pose the Bears’ offense. Even with Ben Johnson’s playcalling might, the young offensive mind could have trouble lighting up the scoreboard as much as they have in recent weeks. Tampa Bay’s secondary has suffocated opposing wide receivers, elite ones at that. Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze will have their touches, but I don’t expect them to best Zyon McCollum or Jacob Parrish that much. D’Andre Swift has been a touchdown machine, but the Bucs’ front seven knows how to stop the run.

Creating turnovers and applying pressure on Caleb Williams is essential to give them a fighting chance. What the result of this game will ultimately say the state of the Bucs entering the bye week. This will either be a team with serious momentum, or a group that started to click too late in the year. I expect a close game, but one where Tampa Bay loses by one possession.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bears 24, Bucs 20
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 3-5

Bailey Adams: Bucs Come To Compete, Lose A Close One In Primetime

I have a lot of belief in this Bucs defense right now. Why shouldn’t I? This is a unit that has been solid all season long, really, and has taken things to a completely new level in recent weeks. As phenomenal of an offensive mind as Ben Johnson is and as great as Caleb Williams and this Bears offense are playing right now, I’m backing the Buccaneers defense to make life difficult for them and keep this game manageable for the visitors.

Bears QB Caleb Williams and HC Ben Johnson – Photo by: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Unfortunately, I just don’t know if I believe enough in this offense to muster up the type of performance it’ll take to win this game in primetime at Soldier Field on a cold (by Tampa standards) November night. The run game is menacing, and this offensive line is playing so well. But I just don’t know how far you can go in this league without getting something meaningful out of the passing game. And until Zac Robinson, Baker Mayfield and these receivers all click and produce something to give the offense a shred of balance, I’m not sure what the ceiling really is.

The defense keeps it close, the offense relies too much on Chase McLaughlin for points and the Bucs are back to losing one-possession games. Bears win.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bears 24, Bucs 19
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 4-4

Josh Queipo: Bucs Offense Can’t Keep Up With Bears

Two weeks ago this game was shaping up to be an embarrassing blowout. But the Buccaneers run game is legitimately one of the best in the NFL. The whole offensive operation is working cohesively to stay on time and ahead of the sticks. The backs and complementary blockers are enabling explosives at an accelerated clip.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

However, the Bears offense will force the Bucs to pass more than they have over the past two weeks. And I’m not so confident that a dinged up Baker Mayfield and a group of receivers who can’t seem to get on the same page are up to the task. Unless Tampa Bay’s defense, which currently ranks first in the NFL in EPA/play and seventh in success rate, can post a Herculean effort against a Chicago offense that is humming along, the Bucs are going to finally face a shootout where they will have to show balance and a passing attack that can gain yards and score.

The one caveat to that is turnovers. Tampa Bay’s defense is one of the best in the NFL at forcing turnovers. And if they can create a sack-fumble of Caleb Williams, or force an errant throw that they pick off, there is a possibility they can put Bears head coach Ben Johnson on tilt. But I’m not counting on it.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bears 24, Bucs 16
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 1-7

Nick Geddes: Bears Offense Just Too Much For Bucs

The Bucs have gotten themselves off the mat in recent weeks, throttling the Panthers in Carolina and shutting out the Falcons at Raymond James Stadium for their first win of the season on home turf. Tampa Bay has momentum and its defense has been particularly effective against two quality offenses in Carolina and Atlanta.

But with all due respect to those two teams, neither can match up to what Todd Bowles and Co. have awaiting for them on Sunday Night Football. The Bears offense, led by quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson, is one of the top units in the entire league. They know how to attack the middle of the field to great success, and we know the weakness of Bowles’ defense is defending that part of the field, even if the overall results have picked up of late.

Bears QB Caleb Williams – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Mark Hoffman

Yes, it’s true that the Bucs defense ranks first in EPA, but I’m not so sure I’m ready to classify them as an elite defense. I think this could be a reality check for that side of the ball as I don’t see the Bears coming out and laying an egg on offense. The Bucs’ offense, meanwhile, has found an identity and has shown to have an elite running game.

Yet we still have no idea if they’re capable of moving the ball through the air, and I’m concerned the one-dimensional nature of their offense could catch up to them here, especially against a Chicago defense which is much improved with the addition of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Perhaps Tampa Bay can keep this close for a half, but give me Chicago pulling away in the second half to improve to 7-2.

GEDDES’ GAME PREDICTION: Bears 31, Bucs 17
GEDDES’ SEASON RECORD: 4-4