The Bears close out a three-week primetime run on Sunday night. After wins on Thursday Night Football and Monday Night Football, Chicago hosts Tampa Bay at Soldier Field as one of the hottest teams in the NFC. Underdog is offering new users promo code FOXNEWS to play $10 and get $50 in bonus entries on Bears vs. Buccaneers.
Chicago has turned into a contender. The Bears are 6-2, have won three straight and just took down the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks 34-17 on Monday night. They’ve been the best team in football against the spread, and the front office went all in at the deadline by trading for defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons.
Tampa Bay is 3-5 and relies heavily on its ground game, led by Bucky Irving. The Bucs beat Atlanta last week in a game where the Falcons threw four interceptions, and they’ll want to shorten this one and keep Chicago’s offense off the field.
The forecast adds another layer. Rain and wind are possible at Soldier Field, which tends to slow down passing games and favor teams that want to run.
Odds are subject to change
Bucky Irving rushing yards (higher): Tampa Bay’s best chance to pull an upset is to grind out long drives on the ground, and bad weather only pushes the Bucs further in that direction. Irving is the engine of their offense, and even if the Bucs fall behind, they’ll keep feeding him to stay out of obvious passing downs. Chicago’s new interior lineman will make it tougher, but volume should carry him.
Caleb Williams passing yards (lower): Here’s the contrarian angle. Williams has been excellent, but wind and rain on the lakefront can turn a passing game into a handoff game in a hurry. Chicago is also on a short week after a cross-country trip to Seattle, and a team with a lead in sloppy conditions has no reason to throw 35 times. His passing number will likely be set off his recent form, not the forecast.
Caleb Williams rushing yards (higher): The flip side of the weather angle. When conditions make it harder to throw, mobile quarterbacks tuck it and run. Williams’ legs have been a big part of Chicago’s success, and a primetime home game in tough conditions is the kind of spot where his scrambles become a key part of the offense.
Chicago played in Seattle on Monday night and turns around to host a Sunday night game. That’s six days, a long flight home and the emotional high of beating the champs. It doesn’t mean the Bears lose, but it’s a reason to expect a slower, more methodical game plan.
The Bears’ primetime tour wraps up under the lights at Soldier Field. Play $10 on Bears vs. Buccaneers with Underdog promo code FOXNEWS and get $50 in bonus entries.