The Chicago Bears will aim to extend their three-game winning streak when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football at Soldier Field. Chicago has won five of its last six games overall, including a 34-17 road victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Monday. Tampa Bay has won three of its last four games and is coming off a 16-0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons.
According to the latest odds, the Bears are favored by 6.5 points at home, with the over/under for total points set at 47.5. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET in Chicago, Illinois.
The Buccaneers' last outing produced one of the season's most unusual results: Tampa Bay became the first team since the 1974 Buffalo Bills to win a game with zero completions. Quarterback Baker Mayfield attempted just three passes in the rain-soaked win over Atlanta, while the Buccaneers set a franchise record with 324 rushing yards.
Chicago's defense received a significant boost with the acquisition of star defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans. In his Bears debut against the Seahawks, Simmons recorded six tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss.
The Bears are attempting to win four consecutive primetime games for the first time since 2013. They lead the NFL in average time of possession and boast the second-best defensive third-down percentage (23.8) by any team through eight games since 2000.
SportsLine expert R.J. White favors the Bears to cover the 6.5-point spread, citing Chicago's elite defense stabilized by Simmons and expressing skepticism about Tampa Bay's two recent wins that required minimal passing. White also likes the under on Mayfield's passing yardage prop of 213.5 yards.
Mayfield, who missed time earlier this season with a dislocated thumb, has thrown a combined 14 passes for 64 yards in his two games since returning — the fewest passing yards by a starting quarterback in consecutive wins since 1974. He continues to play without wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who is sidelined with a knee sprain. SportsLine's projection model has Mayfield completing 18 of 28 passes for 191 yards on Sunday night.
