Bears host Buccaneers in NFC clash with injury concerns

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears meet Sunday at Soldier Field, bringing together two teams that have found recent form but carry contrasting records. The game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET.

Chicago enters the contest with a three-game winning streak, having beaten Seattle 34-17 on Monday night. Tampa Bay has won two straight, including a 16-0 shutout of Atlanta last week.

The Bears are 6-2 and second in the NFC North. They have a 4-2 record against division opponents. The Buccaneers are 3-5 and second in the NFC South with a 3-2 conference mark.

Both squads have key players in doubt. Chicago running back Kyle Monangai is listed as questionable with toe and thumb injuries. Tampa Bay wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is also questionable due to a foot injury.

Historical data favors Chicago, which leads the head-to-head series 40-22. However, Tampa Bay has won the last two matchups, including a 27-17 win in 2023. Current betting lines list Chicago as a six-point favorite. The total points line is set at 47.5.

SportsLine analyst Matt Severance, who has returned $1,437 to $100 players over the last three NFL seasons, favors the Under in this game. He cites the Bears' eighth-ranked scoring defense, which allows 20 points per game, and the fact that the Under has hit in three of the last five meetings between these teams.

Severance's model projects a final score of Chicago 28-20. He noted that he would be surprised if the total reached 48 points. He is 8-0 on NFL money line picks and 14-7 on picks involving the Bears.