The Bucs celebrated their home opener with a 27-17 win over the Bears on a hot afternoon in Tampa. Here are the most impressive players from their victory against the Bears.

Bucs Offensive Line

The Bucs running game went off for 120 yards against the Bears defense in large part due to an offensive line that opened up consistent holes for Rachaad White. In pass protection the Bucs line more than held their own against the Bears pass rush.

Guards Matt Feiler and Cody Mauch in particular helped open up lanes in the run game and for quarterback Baker Mayfield in the passing game. What was widely considered a liability heading into the season has shown itself to be a strength through the first two weeks of the season.

OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After three seasons where Bucs fans have sold hard on Tryon-Shoyinka due to a lack of sack production, no one could have predicted he would have any positives in year four. I mean no one could have. No one.

Not going to say “I told you so about JTS,” Not going to say “I told you so about JTS,” Not going to say “I told you so about JTS,”

I TOLD YOU SO ABOUT JTS!!!!!!

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 17, 2023

No one.

Tryon-Shoyinka had four tackles and two sacks in a dominant performance against a suspect offensive line. On top of the statistical superlatives Tryon-Shoyinka helped contain Bears quarterback Justin Fields by maintaining his rush lanes and preventing Fields from getting outside the pocket where he is especially dangerous. JTS was directly or indirectly a part of at least three sacks on the day with solid run defense on top. Tryon-Shoyinka finished the day with four tackles, two for a loss, the two aforementioned sacks and three quarterback hits.

.@joe_tryon was shot out of a cannon 💨

📺: #CHIvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/M0Qqd97HJ6

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 17, 2023

Nose Tackle Vita Vea

The Bears offense works best when they can establish their run game. On Sunday they were unable to do so. That was in large part due to the Bucs big man in the middle. Three combined tackles may not look like much, but Vea clogged running lanes up the middle and made life miserable for the Bears interior offensive line. And as a pass rusher Vea was in Fields’ face all day long with 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, one tackle for a loss and one quarterback helmet removed.

QB Baker Mayfield

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Somebody check the average calorie consumption in the greater Tampa Bay area because there is a whole lot more Baking going on this year. Mayfield started shaky with an almost-interception to Bears safety Jaquan Brisker on his first pass attempt of the game. Following that mistake his play was fantastic.

Within structure Mayfield often took what the defense gave him, finding easy open reads underneath to Rachaad White, Cade Otton and David Wells. Out of structure Mayfield was revelatory. His escapability, decision-making, and execution was fantastic throughout the game. The final line for Mayfield was 26-34 for 317 yards and a touchdown with four carries for 19 yards in the run game on top of it.

SS Ryan Neal

After a disastrous debut with the Bucs in week one, Neal had a good bounce back game in week two against the Bears. Neal led the team in tackles with seven. Neal was routinely involved in run defense as the box safety, a role he clearly excels in  more than sitting back in coverage. Neal brought an enforcer mentality the Bucs have lacked from that position since Jordan Whitehead left via free agency following the 2021 season. Outside of a 29-yard run by Roschon Johnson in the first half, Neal was a big part of holding the Bears to a 3.5 ypc average. Neal led the team with eight tackles including one for a loss.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

WR Mike Evans

Evans had himself a game. Six catches for 171 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t just that Evans won over and over. It’s how he won. Evans amassed more yards after catch than any other game in his career (previous high was 70 yards in 2015). Evans amassed, by my count, 73 yards on just his two longest catches of the game. He put up 49 on a catch and run for 70 yards to put the Bucs in the red zone early in the first quarter.

70 yards for Mike Evans!

📺: #CHIvsTB on FOX⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/RmhL8IWAmW

— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023

He then added 24 yards after the catch after hit the spin button on the X-Box controller for a 36-yard gain in the third quarter. Add in the following touchdown grab and the Bucs veteran made a strong case that he may very well be worth the $28 million he is possibly asking for on a contract extension.

WANT MIKE EVANS. GOT MIKE EVANS.

📺: #CHIvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/sqy9R6TYRw

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 17, 2023

OLB Shaq Barrett

No player on the Bucs roster deserved to have a good day more than Barrett. Coming off of a season-ending Achilles injury and enduring every parent’s nightmare during the offseason, Barrett continued to push forward. The hard work paid off on Sunday as he had perhaps the play of the game with an incredibly smart and athletic feat that has to be seen to be believed.

Shaq Barrett called game 🔒

(🎥: @nfl) | #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/ZHk8SdAXgm

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) September 17, 2023

Working off of an inside twist Barrett noticed the Bears’ offensive linemen bailing on their blocks for a screen play. He quickly dropped off his rush, lifted his hand in the air and snatched the Field floater out of the air. Barrett finished the play with a strong run through several Bears players for the four-yard touchdown return. Barrett had himself a day with two tackles, a sack, a quarterback hit, an interception and a touchdown.

SCB Christian Izien

Izien had a game very reminiscent of his NFL debut last week. Sound tackling in the open field including a good takedown of Bears receiver D.J Moore after fellow cornerback Zyon McCollum was unable to wrap up the talented play maker. He capped off the game for the Bucs and himself with an impressive interception off of a deflected pass caused by safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Christian Izien ices it with an INT! #CHIvsTB pic.twitter.com/gNuggLsQpD

— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023

S Antoine Winfield Jr.

Speaking of Winfield Jr., he was in the right place at the right time on several plays including breaking up two key passes and bringing down multiple Bears receivers who had gotten loose in space. The Bucs fourth-year safety ended the game with three tackles and two passes defensed.