Chicago’s three-game streak meets Tampa Bay’s two-game surge in a ground-game showdown Sunday night.
Chicago brings a 6-2 record, a three-game winning streak and the No. 5 power-index ranking to Sunday night at Soldier Field; 3-5 Tampa Bay has won two straight and ranks No. 15. The Bears’ 17 rushing touchdowns and 150.8 rushing yards per game put D’Andre Swift, with 545 yards and 10 touchdowns, at the center of the matchup against a Buccaneers defense allowing 80 rushing yards per game. Tampa counters with 168.6 rushing yards per game and Bucky Irving’s 728 yards, testing a Chicago defense that has allowed 86.8 rushing yards per game. Caleb Williams has thrown for 1,267 yards, six touchdowns and one interception, while Tampa’s defense has 12 interceptions; Baker Mayfield has 679 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Controlling the ground game and protecting the ball could decide whether Chicago extends its streak or Tampa makes it three straight.