The Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are out of the postseason race. But even so, their impending clash this weekend at Raymond James Stadium will still be worth watching and also worth betting on as both squads strive to put an end to their respective slumps once and for all. Who’ll be the first one to do so?
Read on below for a full breakdown of this NFC battle. And while you’re at it, check out our other Week 16 previews: Browns at Chiefs and Rams at Seahawks.
[sc:Football ]Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
When: Sunday, December 27, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Chicago Bears (+3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3); total: 46.0 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Chicago Bears (5-9)
[sc:NFL240banner ]The struggle continues for the Chicago Bears. They suffered their third-straight setback thanks to the Minnesota Vikings, who beat them by 21 points last Sunday. It was Teddy Bridgewater’s flawless performance of 231 passing yards (17-of-20) with a career-high of four touchdowns that ultimately led to their demise.
Jay Cutler, who passed for 231 yards and two touchdowns and a pick, will have another opportunity to get his team back on track when they travel to Raymond Jones Stadium for an intriguing showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have lost their last two games. Chicago is 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in its previous five encounters with the Bucs.
The Bucs’ defense has considerably improved this season, allowing just 339.5 total yards per game. But the Bears shouldn’t be intimidated about their chances in this matchup since they have the likes of RB Matt Forte and WR Alshon Jeffery on their side.
Forte’s been limited to less than 50 yards in his past two games but continues to lead the team in rushing yards with 768. He also owns a pretty solid track record opposite Tampa Bay, rumbling for 323 yards in total along with three scores across three career games.
Jeffery, meanwhile, should still be a very reliable target for Cutler despite a forgettable versus the Vikings. He is averaging 14.9 yards per catch and has reached the 100-yard mark four times through nine games this season.
As for the defense, the pressure is on Lamarr Houston, who owns team-highs of 30 solo tackles and six sacks to lead the Bears’ defense in preventing Jameis Winston from finding his groove or comfort zone.
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Betting on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8)
In a must-win situation, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers failed to rise to the challenge as their playoff-hopes were completely shattered after Thursday night’s eight-point loss to the St. Louis Rams. The efforts of Case Keenum proved to be just enough to help the Rams get past them.
Keenum delivered arguably his best performance as a pro, completing 14 of his 17 passes for a season-high of 234 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. His pair of wide receivers in Kenny Britt and Jared Cook also made their presence felt, combining for 135 passing yards in the win.
Moving forward, the Bucs will now try to release their frustrations and hopefully emerge victorious in their second to the last game of the season opposite the visiting Chicago Bears. Tampa Bay is 3-4 SU and ATS at the Raymond James Stadium this year.
The Bucs would be smart to increase their ground plays in this one as the Bears currently rank among the worst in the league in defending against the rush with 125.9 yards yielded per game. That said, the onus is on Doug Martin to take full advantage of Chicago’s shaky front seven.
Martin has been on his A-game in the previous five games, rumbling for a staggering 599 yards with two touchdowns in total. That stretch includes a 45-17 win over the Eagles in Week 11, during which he racked up a career-best of 235 rushing yards. He also boasts a team-high of 1,305 rushing yards with five touchdowns this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Chicago wins, 21-14, thanks to a strong outing from Jay Cutler. Create a betting account now and cash in on all the NFL regular season action.
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