The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will end their home schedule on Sunday as they square off against the Chicago Bears. Coach Lovie Smith of Buccaneers can avoid a third consecutive defeat by winning the game.
The two teams are already out from playoff contention, making this game more about pride and finishing the season on a positive note. The Bucs aim to redeem themselves after getting a pair of disappointing outings over the past two weeks while Tampa Bay has shown flashes of brilliance despite consecutive losses over the past two weeks.
Here's what you need to know about the Sunday's encounter.
Date and Time: Sunday, 1 p.m
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
TV: Fox
Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
According to Bleacher Report, Tampa Bay has been most effective on offense this season when they establish the ground game early and controls the plays throughout the game. Their quarterback Jameis Winston is at his best in the running game. He has thrown for 3,422 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The players also made season highs with 29 completions, 50 attempts and 363 yards in the past week.
Furthermore, Tampa Bay can use Doug Martin and Charles Sims early in the game. The duo can hit some big plays in the secondary and finish off long drives with red-zone touchdowns, something Winston has excelled during his rookie season in the league.
The Bucs is poised to avoid a fifth straight losing season, so this means the team is determined to grab the win on Sunday. They can also avenge their last season's 21-13 loss to Chicago in 2012.
"I understand the team we're playing. ... There won't be any family reunions. We're looking to get the win," Tampa Bay's head coach Smith said in a published statement in Fox Sports.
On another hand, Chicago Bears rushed for 181 yards in two games since gaining 170 in an overtime loss to San Francisco in Week 13, thanks to the offensive efforts of quarterback Matt Forte and rookie Jeremy Langford.
It's also interesting to note that Bears made a good matchup against Green Bay on Thanksgiving, with a final score of 17-13.
According to Chicago Bears' coach John Fox, the team always remembers four words to uplift themselves. Those words are "focus, intensity, preparation and then really the mental toughness to create all those things on a consistent basis."
