Bears, Buccaneers clinging to hopes of turning season around
CHICAGO (2-6) at TAMPA BAY (3-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
OPENING LINE - Buccaneers by 3
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Chicago 2-6, Tampa Bay 3-5
SERIES RECORD - Bears lead 38-18
LAST MEETING - Bears beat Buccaneers 26-21, Dec. 27, 2015
LAST WEEK - Bears had bye, beat Vikings 20-10 on Oct. 31; Buccaneers lost to Falcons 43-28
AP PRO32 RANKING - Bears No. 29, Buccaneers No. 26
BEARS OFFENSE - OVERALL (15), RUSH (24), PASS (12).
BEARS DEFENSE - OVERALL (12), RUSH (14), PASS (12).
BUCCANEERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (14), RUSH (15), PASS (17).
BUCCANEERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (28), RUSH (25), PASS (27).
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -Bears have won five of past six in series between one-time NFC Central rivals (1977-2001). ... QB Jay Cutler returned to lineup two weeks ago after missing five games with sprained right thumb, led Bears to win over NFC North leader Minnesota. Threw for 252 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions. ... RB Jordan Howard ranks second among NFL rookies with 505 yards rushing. ... TE Zach Miller coming off seven-reception, 88-yard performance against Vikings, while WR Alshon Jeffery had four catches for 63 yards and first TD of season in Cutler's return. ... Jeffery has eighth-most receiving yards (3,944 yards, 22 TDs) in league since 2013 behind Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas, A.J. Green, T.Y. Hilton, Brandon Marshall and DeAndre Hopkins. ... Bears rookie LB Leonard Floyd had three sacks in past two games. ... Bucs QB Jameis Winston has thrown for eight TDs vs. one interception in past three games. Bucs 1-2 over that stretch. ... WR Mike Evans had 11 receptions for 150 yards and two TDs in last week's loss to Atlanta. Evans leads NFL with eight TD catches, fourth in receiving yards per game (93.1). ... Bucs' defense yielded 1,087 yards, including 857 passing, in losses to Raiders, Falcons past two games. ... RB Doug Martin, sidelined since Week 2 with hamstring injury, returned to practice on limited basis this week. ... Bucs are 0-4 at home, while Bears are 0-4 on road. ... Fantasy Tip: Winston has five TD passes with zero interceptions in past two home games. Evans is averaging 97.8 yards receiving and has three TD receptions in past four at Raymond James Stadium.
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