Two convincing wins over the Panthers and Falcons have given the Bucs new life after a disastrous 0-4 start. But let’s not confuse beating struggling division rivals with proof this team has truly turned a corner.

At 3-5, Tampa Bay hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record. That makes Sunday night’s showdown against the 6-2 Bears in Chicago more than just another opportunity to climb back toward .500. It is a chance for the Bucs to prove they belong in the playoff conversation.

Lose, and Tampa Bay would enter its bye week at 3-6 with a daunting trip to Detroit waiting on the other side. Win, and the narrative surrounding this team changes considerably.

In this week’s Slivon’s Slant, I examine why the Bucs must “Bear Down” and prove their recent resurgence is legitimate. They have established an identity on both sides of the ball, but can it hold up against one of the NFC’s better teams?

Bucs Are A Run-First Offense, But Can They Get The Passing Game Going?

The Bucs have run wild, turning the corner on the ground in their first primetime game of the season against the Cowboys. In three of the team’s past four games, they have turned in 241, 258, and a franchise-record 324 yards on the ground.

Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s offense is operating on two extremes halfway through the season. Tampa Bay boasts the NFL’s best rushing attack, but it also ranks last in passing. Robinson turning the offense into a throwback, smash-mouth style unit has been enjoyable to watch; however, they won’t be able to run for over 200 yards on the ground every week.

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

At some point, Baker Mayfield will have to make plays through the air. Considering Chicago has a top five run defense led by the recent addition of superstar defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, Robinson must find some offensive balance that keeps them guessing.

“We’re going to have to make plays in the pass game,” Robinson said on Thursday. “So, when [we’ve] needed to, we showed some signs of making some plays. Last week was last week, but we’ve just got to throw and catch. We’ve got to throw and catch. That’s got to be our focus. It’s as simple as that. We’ve got to be in the right spot. We’ve got to just complete the balls that are there. We’ve got to catch it when it’s thrown to us.”

Robinson does give long-form responses to questions, but he also subtly stated that the wide receivers need to do more.

The Bucs entered the season expecting their wide receivers to be a strength. Instead, the group has become one of the offense’s biggest disappointments. There are layers to explain why the production hasn’t been there, but the biggest issue is a scheme that hasn’t consistently created opportunities.

“We’ve got to make the plays,” Robinson added. “We’re looking for that to happen, for somebody to take over and really take that over for us. We’re going to need it. We’re going to need somebody to step up. Baker [Mayfield’s] thumb is getting better by the week, and so we anticipate him being ready to roll in whatever type of game is called. We’ll be ready for it for sure.”

Adding new wrinkles and catching the Bears’ defense off-guard would be one way to keep Sunday night’s game competitive.

Improving the passing game shouldn’t require reinventing the wheel.

Bucs OC Zac Robinson and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Involving Chris Godwin Jr. as the high-volume target is one option. Godwin remains savvy enough to create separation, whether on slant routes across the middle or within the intermediate passing game. Emeka Egbuka appears set to return following a one-game absence, but it has been almost a full calendar year since his last 100-yard game against the Patriots in Week 10 last season. Unlocking Egbuka would go a long way. Tez Johnson and third-round pick Ted Hurst III have shown flashes, but each also deserves more targets to create big plays.

I would even throw the tight ends into this conversation. Cade Otton isn’t flashy, but he can help move the chains in a pinch. What piques my curiosity is seeing whether Bauer Sharp will get more involved. During his weekly press conference, Robinson alluded to expanding his role. Going play-action in 12 or 13 personnel and having the athletic Sharp beat a linebacker downfield is another option.

Bucs TE Bauer Sharp – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Pewter Report’s Matt Matera, Bailey Adams, and I discussed all of these elements and more extensively on Thursday’s Pewter Report Podcast. The Bucs’ offense has built a run-first identity around running backs Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell, and I wouldn’t be surprised to still see a heavy dose of run calls. Zac Robinson’s offense remains under construction halfway through the season, considering that there have been few positives surrounding the passing game.

Granted, the torrential rain against Atlanta made throwing the football nearly impossible, but that does not excuse the season-long struggles moving the ball through the air. The Bucs will not always have the luxury of running the ball down an opponent’s throat, especially against playoff-caliber defenses. If Tampa Bay wants to play meaningful football late in the season, balance must be found.

On Chicago’s side, they already boasted a solid defense under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Adding Simmons was the presumed final touch in making the unit more imposing, as the All-Pro’s presence was felt throughout his Bears debut against the Seahawks.

Robinson admitted that it will be a challenge to stop him and counter the defensive looks Allen throws at him. I’m curious how he will adjust his playcalling against stacked boxes and if the run game fails to get going right away.

Will there be adjustments, or will the early-season predictable playcalling rear its ugly head?

“He’s one of the better players in the league, regardless – offense, defense,” Robinson said of Simmons. “He’s disruptive [in the] run game, pass game. When you see him in person, the physical presence alone, you see it. Obviously, there’s really nothing he can’t do to disrupt the game. So, you’ve got to account for him at all times.

“‘D.A.’ (Dennis Allen) does an unbelievable job… He mixes up the looks as good as anybody. You know, he’s got a talented front with these guys. They play hard. You throw on the tape, and it’s a violent, physical defense. They play hard. So, we know we’ll have to be at our best, whether that’s blocking Simmons and really handling the rest of the group, and then also the scheme challenges that they present as well… Our guys are going to be pumped, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

While Todd Bowles’ Defense Is Legit, So Is The Bears’ Offense

On the flip side, the Bucs’ defense has perfectly complemented the offense as one of the best units in all of football.

Head coach Todd Bowles has finally put together his best defense at the helm, as the group is generating timely takeaways and preventing opposing offenses from sustaining long drives. The group has exceeded expectations this season, but it has reached another level since the Cowboys game.

It is hard to pin much blame on the unit for the Bucs’ 26-19 overtime loss to the Steelers, as they spent much of the fourth quarter on the field due to an inept offense and were gassed by the time the extra period was played. Since then, they have allowed just 13 points over the past two games. They generated five sacks and three takeaways (two interceptions and a fumble recovery) against the Panthers, which included defensive tackle Calijah Kancey’s scoop-and-score.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

The encore to that was even more impressive, as Tampa Bay pitched a shutout against the Falcons. Michael Penix Jr. was pressured into making bad decisions all game, and the defense capitalized with four interceptions. They have slowed down every running back they have seen while keeping the team in every game. Bowles deserves more credit than he has received for how well the defense has played, but the criticism will return should they fail to contain the Bears’ offense.

Head coach Ben Johnson’s offense remains innovative and multi-faceted, having scored at least 30 points in each of the past three games. Like Liam Coen did with Baker Mayfield in 2024, Johnson has coaxed better efficiency from quarterback Caleb Williams.

Bears QB Caleb Williams – Photo by IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Williams’ completion percentage has jumped from 58.1% in 2025 to 70.9% in 2026, throwing just one interception all season. He is not immune to making poor decisions, but much of that will hinge on how the pass rush affects his timing and how the secondary holds up.

To that end, I have more concerns about the former considering Chicago’s offensive line has held up for much of the season and with outside linebacker Yaya Diaby ruled out with an MCL sprain. Cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish have each played at an All-Pro level, but that doesn’t mean that Johnson won’t come up with creative play calls to scheme wide receivers Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze open.

As much as I want to see what the offense is really made of, the defense has to hold up its end of the bargain, too. I have more trust in Todd Bowles than Zac Robinson at this point, and I have my doubts that Tampa Bay can stay in this game if they don’t create multiple takeaways and force enough three-and-outs.

Closing Slant

The Bucs have played with a minuscule margin for error for much of the year, with the defense picking up the slack. That formula has worked against struggling NFC South rivals, but expecting it to hold up against one of the NFC’s top teams is asking a lot.

Sunday night represents a chance for Tampa Bay to prove its recent resurgence is more than just the product of beating inferior opponents. The Bucs have established an identity by running the football, playing physical defense and forcing turnovers. It has proven to be a recipe for success, but it becomes much harder to execute against a Bears team that can match their physicality and make them uncomfortable on both sides of the ball.

That is where the real test begins.

Can Zac Robinson adjust when the running lanes disappear? Can Baker Mayfield and his receivers finally give opposing defenses a reason to respect the passing game? Can Todd Bowles’ defense continue making game-changing plays against an offense that has rarely beaten itself?

For a team that has already dug itself a sizable hole, moral victories aren’t going to cut it anymore. The Bucs don’t necessarily have to play a perfect game in Chicago, but they can ill afford to be one-dimensional or expect their defense to bail them out every Sunday.

A win would send Tampa Bay into its bye week with legitimate momentum at 4-5 and renewed hope of making a playoff push. A loss would raise an uncomfortable question about whether the past two weeks were signs of real progress or simply the result of playing lesser competition.

The Bucs have shown they can beat the teams they are supposed to beat. Now it is time to show they can beat a team they are not supposed to. That’s how we will find out who these Bucs really are.