On a hot afternoon in Tampa, the Bucs celebrated their home opener with a 27-17 win over the Bears. Here are the players who were most memorable in the win over the Bears.
bucks offensive line
The Bucs running game gained 120 yards against the Bears defense, thanks in large part to an offensive line that consistently punched holes in Ratchard White. In pass protection, the Bucs’ line held up more than adequately against the Bears’ pass rush.
Guards Matt Feiler and Cody Mauch in particular helped open up lanes in the run game and quarterback Baker Mayfield in the pass game. What was widely considered a weakness heading into the season turned out to be a strength throughout the first two weeks of the season.
OLB Joe Tryon Soyinka
Bucks OLB Joe Tryon Soyinka – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
After three seasons in which Bucks fans touted Tryon Soyinka heavily due to a lack of sack production, no one expected him to bring any upside in Year 4. In other words, he couldn’t have anyone. no one.
Don’t say “I told you so about JTS” Don’t say “I told you so about JTS” Don’t say “I told you so about JTS”
We talked about JTS!!!!!!
— Joshua Quaipo (@josh_queipo) September 17, 2023
no one.
Tryon Soyinka had four tackles and two sacks in a dominant performance against a questionable offensive line. In addition to having the best stats, Tryon Soyinka also has the ability to protect Bears quarterback Justin Fields by keeping rushing lanes open and preventing Fields from getting out of the pocket, which is especially dangerous. He helped contain it. JTS had a solid run defense on the day, contributing directly or indirectly to at least three sacks. Tryon Soyinka finished the day with four tackles, two for loss, the aforementioned two sacks, and three QB hits.
.@joe_tryon I was shot by a cannon 💨
📺: #CHIvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/M0Qqd97HJ6
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 17, 2023
Nose tackle Vita Vea
The Bears offense is most effective when it can establish a run game. I couldn’t do that on Sunday. That was mainly due to the Bucks’ big man in the middle. The three tackles total may not seem like a lot, but Vea clogged his lane running center and made life miserable for the Bears’ interior and his offensive line. . And as a pass rusher, Baer faced Fields all day with 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, one tackle for a loss and one quarterback helmet off.
QB Baker Mayfield

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Since baking will be even more popular this year, someone please look up the average calorie consumption for the greater Tampa Bay area. Mayfield got off to a shaky start, nearly intercepting Bears safety Jaquan Brisker on his first pass attempt of the game. After that mistake, he played great.
In structure, Mayfield took advantage of what the defense gave him, finding easy open reads to Rashard White, Cade Otton, and David Wells. Mayfield off structure was revelatory. His evasion, decision-making and execution were excellent throughout the game. Mayfield’s final line went 26-34 for 317 yards, and the run game added one touchdown and 19 yards on four carries.
SS Ryan Neal
After a disastrous debut against the Bucks in Week 1, Neal bounced back well against the Bears in Week 2.Neil led the team in tackles. Seven. Neal was involved in run defense on a daily basis as a box safety, a role that was clearly better than sitting in coverage. Neal brings an enforcer mentality to the position that the Bucks have lacked since Jordan Whitehead left in free agency after the 2021 season. Outside of Roshon Johnson’s 29-yard run in the first half, Neal was instrumental in holding the Bears to an average of 3.5 ypc. Neal led the team with eight tackles, including one for a loss.

Bucks WR Mike Evans – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
WR Mike Evans
Evans had the game to himself. He had six catches for 171 yards and one touchdown. It’s not just that Evans won over and over again. That’s how he won. Evans had more yards after the catch than any other game in his career (his previous best was 70 yards in 2015). By my count, Evans gained 73 yards on just his two longest catches of the game. He caught for 49 yards and ran for 70 yards, pushing the Bucs into the red zone early in the first quarter.
Mike Evans 70 yards!
📺: #CHIvsTB FOX⁰📱: Streaming #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RmhL8IWAmW
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
He then added 24 yards after hitting the spin button on his X-Box controller and making the catch, followed by a 36-yard gain in the third quarter. Add in another touchdown grab, and the Bucs veteran made a strong case that he could very well be worth the $28 million he’s asking for in a contract extension.
I want Mike Evans. We got Mike Evans.
📺: #CHIvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/sqy9R6TYRw
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 17, 2023
OLB Shaq Barrett
No player on the Bucks’ roster deserves a better day than Barrett. Despite coming back from a season-ending Achilles injury and enduring every parent’s nightmare during the offseason, Barrett kept moving forward. His efforts paid off Sunday, when he played the game with perhaps an incredibly smart and athletic feat.
Shaq Barrett calls the game 🔒
(🎥: @nfl) | #Gobucks pic.twitter.com/ZHk8SdAXgm
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) September 17, 2023
Working on an inside twist, Barrett noticed Bears offensive linemen bailing on blocks for screen plays. He immediately stopped rushing and put his hand in the air to snatch a field floater out of the air. Barrett ran powerfully through several Bears players and completed the play with a 4-yard touchdown return. Barrett had a day with two tackles, one sack, one quarterback hit, one interception and one touchdown.
SCB Christian Idzien
Isien had a game reminiscent of his NFL debut last week. The open-field tackles were strong, including a good takedown of Bears receiver DJ Moore after fellow cornerback Zion McCollum was unable to wrap around the talented playmaker. He made an impressive interception off a pass deflected by safety Antoine Winfield Jr. to close out the game for the Bucs and himself.
Christian Idzien solved 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 beating multiple Bears receivers who got loose in space. The Bucs’ fourth-year safety finished the game with three tackles and two passes defensed.