Bucks vs. Bears
when: Sunday, September 17, 2023 | where: Raymond James Stadium | kick off: 1:00 PM ET | tv set: Fox
For each play: Joe Davis | Analyst: Darryl Johnston | Side job: pam oliver
wireless: 98 Rock 97.9FM | For each play: Gene Deckerhoff Analyst: Dave Moore | Side job: TJ Rives
As game day approaches, it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make their weekly game predictions and provide game previews for this week’s matchups. Let us know what you think in the comment section of the article. Please also add your predictions.
Scott Reynolds: Todd Bowles’ defense dominates Justin Fields in Bucks win
The Bucks are the rare favorites heading into their home opener against the Bears in Week 2. Las Vegas gave Tampa Bay the edge. Not only did the Bucs beat the Vikings 20-17 as road underdogs in Week 1, but the Packers did to the Bears. A Green Bay team without Aaron Rodgers defeated Chicago 38-20 in the Bears’ home opener. Justin Fields was sacked four times and threw a fumble and a pick-six, but Chicago’s defense did not record a takeaway and only sacked Jordan Love once.
Bucks S. Antwan Winfield Jr. – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The last time the Bucs faced the Bears, it was a nightmare for Fields during his rookie season. Todd Bowles went after Fields in 2021, but the Bucs defense sacked him four times and forced him into three interceptions. Look for Bowles to completely out-coach Matt Eberflus on Sunday. Eberflus had a dismal 3-15 record as Chicago’s head coach. Devin White and Antwon Winfield Jr. could be on the verge of another great day after their hard work in the Week 1 win.
The Bears’ defense has no pass rushers up front other than Yannick Ngakoue, who recorded Chicago’s only sack. Ngakoue is a one-trick pony who doesn’t defend the run well, so Dave Canales would be wise to target him in the run game. Ngakoue lunged against left tackles 11 times from the left side and 30 times from the right side. Playing him against left tackle Tristan Wirfs seems almost wasteful, so I wonder if the Bears will try to play him more on the left side this week by playing him against right tackle Luke Goedeke.
The Bucs’ ground game needs to start Sunday, but it could be tough against a Bears defense that starts with two new linebackers in TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds and is designed to stop the run. unknown. The duo combined for 22 tackles in Week 1. It might be smart to have White as a receiver out of the backfield versus Edwards and Edmunds. Because they are better at run defense than coverage.
It may not be 38-3 like in 2021, but I think the Bucs avoided turnovers for the second straight week and easily defeated the Bears to improve to 2-0.
Reynolds game prediction: Bucks 26, Bears 13
Reynolds season record: 1-0
Matt Matera: Bucks Smoke the Bears
That would be a declaration for the Bucks that they will absolutely defeat the Bears in their home opener. I understand that the Bears suffered badly in the season opener, but let’s not forget that many national media outlets ranked the Bucks as a bottom-five team this season.
They already upset the Vikings in Week 1, so a big win in Week 2 could start to change the narrative for this team. Heading into Monday Night Football with a 2-0 record versus the Eagles, who are 2-0, it certainly sounds like a prime-time matchup. First they have to do Sunday work.
Bucks WR Mike Evans – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Bucks’ offensive line will have to set the tone in this game. They did a great job last week and need to continue that momentum. Chicago only had one sack and no takeaways in the first game. The only name you need to know is Yannick Ngakoue. If the Bears attack the right way, they will match him up against Luke Goedeke, who held his own at right tackle.
The Bucs have a big advantage at wide receiver in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and the Bears are already in a corner. The center of the field is a spot the Bucks can exploit. If Tampa Bay’s offense holds up its end of the bargain, I expect Baker Mayfield and Rathard White to have big games.
Open field tackling is essential for the Bucs defense in this game. That will be further emphasized if Zion McCollum starts at corner in place of the injured Carlton Davis III. The Bears like to run a lot of bubble screens on their receivers and put their running backs in space, so the Bucs can shut it down right away. The other big focus is obviously keeping Justin Fields in the pocket and having him throw rather than scramble.
Tampa Bay should have Devin White as a spy for Fields, but I’m also excited to see what exotic blitz Todd Bowles comes up with. The Bears’ offensive line has struggled against blitzes, so if the outside linebacker rotation doesn’t work out, expect Antwaun Winfield Jr., White and Lavonte David to get up to the line of scrimmage and rush the passer. The Bucks won by a wide margin, putting an exclamation point on the game. It’s not even close.
Matera Prediction: Bucks 35, Bears 14
Matera season record: 0-1
Bailey Adams: Better teams take care of business
Before the Bucs went on the road and beat the Vikings, and before the Bears’ ugly Week 1 performance against the Packers, I already chalked this game up as a Bucs win. I really believe this is a favorable matchup for Tampa Bay, so I’m sticking with it.
Bucks WR Mike Evans – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Expect a lot of excitement at Raymond James Stadium for the home opener, with Todd Bowles’ defense once again leading the charge against a shaky Bears offense led by Justin Fields. It will be. Fields can certainly do damage with his feet, but as long as the Bucks can limit his actions there, they’ll like the chance to stop him in the air, or at least contain him.
Fields is turnover-prone, and winning the turnover battle convincingly (3-0) was a big help for Tampa Bay in Week 1. I like this defense to rack up sacks and force at least two turnovers to set up the offense. We are in a good position to win.
Offensively, I think this unit will get off to a better start in Week 2. Rachard White should be able to get a foothold into the game a little sooner and establish a better rushing attack on the ball side of Dave Canales this week.
And when it comes to the passing game, I think Mike Evans and Chris Godwin can thrive against this Chicago secondary. Not only that, but nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon is on injured reserve, so the Bucs should be able to win from that slot as well.
This is a must-win game for Tampa Bay, and they should come away with a pretty convincing victory. But this is a team still in development, and there should be more growing pains this week. So, while the Bucks may win, I don’t think it will be by as much of a margin as it would have been if this team were more established.
Adams’ game prediction: Bucks 30, Bears 14
Adams season record: 1-0
Josh Quaipo: Bucks make home debut in impressive style
The Bears are off to a strong start to a much-hyped season. The offense looked fragmented and lifeless, and the rebuilding defense still lacked a pass rush to help induce mistakes from Packers quarterback Jordan Love. It was the nightmare every Bears fan thought was impossible after an offseason when they were convinced they were back.
Bucks OLB Joe Tryon Soyinka – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Looking at their roster situation, they have a bad matchup overall against the Bucks. Their pass rush has been “so-so” at best, and the matchup against the Bucs’ offensive line is a boost for even the most skeptical of the Bucs’ pass protection.
The Bears’ cornerback room will be without Kyler Gordon. As such, they will rely on Jaylon Johnson and rookie Tyrik Stevenson, who struggled in their last matchup against Mike Evans.
The only matchup the Bucs should worry about on offense is center Robert Hainsey versus Bears nose tackle Andrew Billings. Hainzu has struggled to start the season, and Billings is an effective force in the run game. He was able to single-handedly stop the Bucks’ rushing attack. Still, we see Tampa Bay using a play-action passing attack to get multiple shots behind the Bears’ linebackers in an offensive homecoming that Bucs fans will enjoy.
Offensively, the Bears have proven receiving talent that can take advantage of the Bucs’ thin cornerback room. With Carlton Davis III likely out and Chris Eigen’s status up in the air, Tampa Bay will have to rely on the so far unreliable Zion McCollum. If the Bears can take advantage of this matchup with star receiver DJ Moore like the Panthers were able to do last year, it could be a closer game than most expected.
But I don’t believe Bears quarterback Justin Fields will pull the trigger. Instead, I see Todd Bowles using inside blitzes with Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon Soyinka to prevent Fields from getting outside the pocket, where he’s at his best. look.
Quipo’s game prediction: Bucks 34, Bears 10
Quipo season record: 1-0
Adam Slivone: Bucks beat Da Bears
After the Packers continued ownership of the Bears post-Aaron Rodgers and won 38-20, the Bears proved to have a lot of weaknesses. There was a lot of hype in the offseason about Justin Fields emerging as an MVP candidate and leading a long-dormant organization to the playoffs. I didn’t buy it then, but after the first week, I don’t buy it much now.
Bucks ILB Devin White – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Despite his success as a runner, Fields lacks the refined decision-making and pocket awareness to make reads, anticipate pressure, and get the ball to his receivers. There are pieces in DJ Moore and Darnell Mooney, but it ultimately comes down to Fields’ ability against the Bucs’ defense, and that’s where Tampa Bay has an advantage.
Fields didn’t do well the last time he faced the Bucs as a rookie in 2021 against Todd Bowles’ defense. They threw three interceptions and were held to just 38 rushing yards in a 38-3 loss. I expect the defense to put strong pressure on the young, mobile quarterback again on Sunday.
The Bears’ offensive line is new to tackling, with 2022 fifth-round pick Braxton Jones at left tackle and rookie first-round pick Darnell Wright at right tackle. In the middle, nose tackle Vita Vea should command double teams against backup-level center Lucas Patrick. This will put pressure on the rest of the front seven, with Devin White and Antwon Winfield Jr. potentially having big games again in a dial-up blitz package.
Moving on to the Bucks’ offense, there’s a lot to like about how their playmakers capitalize on their opportunities. They moved the ball more skillfully in the second half against the Vikings, and that was the beginning of a blossoming unit that will continue to grow in chemistry and cohesion.
For Rathard White, the rebounding game is well within his sights. His name should be called a lot to control the clock and get yardage with high loads against the Bears’ run defense, which leaves a lot to be desired. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson and rookie Tyrik Stephenson are no slouches, but Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are top-level receivers who can find ways to get out. Safety Eddie Jackson still patrols the Bears’ secondary, but his play has dipped somewhat since he was an All-Pro in 2018 and a Pro Bowler in 2019.
Baker Mayfield showed in Week 1 that he can win games with his gritty style of play, but I don’t think he needs to do that this time around. All he has to do is limit his mistakes and play within himself, which should be enough to lead the Bucks to a 2-0 start.
Slivong’s game prediction: Bucks 27, Bears 16
Srivong season record: 1-0
