Chicago Bears: Players To Watch Against The Buccaneers

The Chicago Bears travel in Week 2 to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They try to regroup after a tough loss and get a victory.

The Chicago Bears try to regroup after a horrible showing in Week 1. They lost to the hated Green Bay Packers for the ninth straight time. Additionally, they now own an 11-game losing streak overall dating to last season.

Last week was a total mess. It was more of the same incompetence we’ve seen the past several seasons. We saw dumb penalties at bad times, the offense struggling to move the ball, and the defense getting killed by the same plays over again without adjustments.

It did not take long for the fans at Soldier Field to show their displeasure at the team. The boobirds came out in the second quarter. By the time the game reached the fourth quarter, the boos were at a high pitch.

A few of the new players were shocked at how quickly the fans turned on the team. They found out that the fans are as passionate about bashing their beloved players as they are about showering praise on them when they succeed.

This week the Bears take to the road. They travel to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Early on, it seemed like this could be a victory for the Bears. However, the Bucs found a way to upset the NFC North champs, the Minnesota Vikings. They did it on the road, no less. Now they have their home opener and want to win another game.

This will be a tough game to win, no doubt. Facing a team that is riding high after you suffered a humiliating loss is a tough task. Here are some players to watch who could have an impact.

Braxton Jones, Offensive Tackle

Braxton Jones had an up-and-down game last week. He did a good job of blocking. He handled his assignments well for the most part.

Penalties were a problem, however. He committed four penalties. and three of them were accepted. He kept getting caught with his hands outside and he jumped early another time.

This is uncharacteristic for Jones. Last season he had a total of eight accepted penalties, three of them for holding.

Jones is usually a very disciplined player so we shouldn’t expect a repeat of that. He needs to be clean against Tampa. They have Shaquil Barrett and Anthony Nelson, two good outside linebackers who rush the quarterback.

If Braxton has a good game this week it will definitely give the offense a big boost.

Tremaine Edmunds, Linebacker

One of the good things the Chicago Bears did last week was shut down the run. The Packers had 92 yards and averaged a paltry 2.9 yards per carry.

The pass defense was horrible, though. Green Bay averaged 16.3 yards per catch. Packers rookie tight end Luke Musgrave had 50 yards on just three catches.

Tremaine Edmunds has to make sure the Bucs’ tight ends don’t have a similar day. He will match up with second-year tight end Cade Otton for most of the game.

Otton had two catches for 19 yards last week. It is important that Edmunds doesn’t allow Otton to become a security blanket for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Edmunds will also likely match up with Otton in the run game. Edmunds has the strength to take on tight ends in the run game. He can shed them and get to the ball carrier. In his career, he registered over 100 tackles in every season he played. Last week, he continued being a tackle machine. He registered 8 tackles.

Edmunds needs to take control and help improve the defense.

Tyrique Stevenson, Cornerback

Rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson is a dynamic player. He is big, speedy, and athletic. He will certainly be tested this week. It is likely that the Buccaneers will try to have wide receiver Mike Evans matched up with Stevenson.

While Stevenson has all the tools to be a very good player in the league, he is still a rookie. He is a very aggressive player. That gives him the ability to make big plays. However, it also leads to getting burned.

In the preseason, Stevenson had a chance to make an amazing four interceptions. He only made one, however. On the other plays, he gave up big plays, including a touchdown. Until he gets adjusted to the NFL play, we will see some boom and bust plays out of him.

If the Bears are to win this game, Stevenson will have to make some plays against one of the best wide receivers in the game. He will have a big test and he looks forward to passing it.

Cole Kmet, Tight End

Cole Kmet recently signed a contract extension. Now he has to go out and make an impact this season.

Kmet made 5 catches for 44 yards last week. He needs to be more involved in the offense. He can be a good safety valve for quarterback Justin Fields. If the Bucs defense decides to cover the speedy receivers Kmet can make plays underneath.

If the Bears get into the red zone, they have to utilize Kmet’s strength and height. They have to stop making things more difficult and use their assets. Kmet could be a big one.

DJ Moore, Wide Receiver

Speaking of getting more involved, the Chicago Bears have to get the ball to D.J. Moore. Last week he only had two targets. He caught them both for 25 yards.

General manager Ryan Poles insisted on including Moore when discussing the trade of the top overall pick in this year’s draft.

Moore is an incredible receiver who runs excellent routes and has sticky hands. He instantly improves any offense he’s a part of.

It is critical that Moore be more involved in the game. He is a difference-maker who can change the game on a dime. He can go out deep and make a big play. Additionally, he can take a screen and take it for a big gain.

With Moore, the Chicago Bears’ offense can put pressure on the Bucs defense. Having them on their heels will increase the chances of a big play.

Let’s hope that Moore gets more than just two targets against Tampa Bay. If he doesn’t, there will be more ire from the fans and calls for heads to roll.

Justin Fields, Quarterback

Fields felt as embarrassed as anyone with the Bears’ performance last week. He even apologized to the fans for the poor showing.

Fields knows that the offense was too conservative. He knows that the ball has to go downfield a lot more. Throwing so many flares and screen passes put the offense in so many long-yardage situations. That is a recipe for many punts and a lot of wasted drives.

By not trying to go downfield, the opposing defense will then focus on the running game. Opponents will stack the line and make it difficult to run the ball. Going downfield opens up space not only for the passing game but also for the running game. If the defense has to account for the pass it won’t have the players to shut down the run.

That also helps Fields. With more open space he could run as well. The Bears don’t want him to run as much as he did last season. However, he can pick and choose when to run to make his runs more effective.

Once Fields sees a sliver for him to go through he will take off. If he gets through that hole, it is over for the defense. No one will catch him once he accelerates.

For that reason, Fields has to take chances downfield. Even if some of the passes aren’t caught, if the defense feels he could go downfield, it gives it something extra to think about.

Fields wants to make up for what happened last week. He, as well as his teammates, want to show the fans that the additions to the roster were not a waste. They want to show that they are on the right path.