Bears face Bucs run defense before bye week

Chicago Bears fans will see a familiar routine this week. The team faces a difficult defensive front in Tampa Bay before taking a week off. The game takes place Sunday at Soldier Field. It is the final contest before the Bears enter their bye week.

The Bears have played high stakes games recently. They beat the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in prime time slots. Both opponents reached the Super Bowl last year. The Bears now prepare for a team that has found consistency. Tampa Bay started 0-4 but has won three of its last four games.

The Buccaneers' defense presents a specific problem. They have held opponents to 80 rushing yards per game. That rank is second best in the league. They have also allowed only 640 total rushing yards, which is third fewest. Head coach Ben Johnson said the Bears' running game has been inconsistent recently. He noted the unit struggles more in the first half than the second.

Injury issues affect the Bears' backfield. Kyle Monangai returned to practice Friday for the first time in a month. His status is uncertain for Sunday. Zavier Scott is on injured reserve. D'Andre Swift and others will carry the ball. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor described Tampa Bay as a tough tackling unit. He said they use a heavy box and rotate coverage to stop the run.

Tampa Bay also pressures the ball. The team leads the NFL with 16 takeaways. They have intercepted 12 passes and recovered four fumbles. Linebacker Alex Anzalone has three interceptions. Several other defenders have two or one. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has thrown only one interception in five games. He set an NFL record by going 36 straight games without throwing multiple interceptions.

Williams called the Buccaneers' defense active. He said their speed is a major reason they play well. The Bucs have also improved their own rushing attack. They average 231.3 rushing yards over their last four games. Bucky Irving is fourth in the league with 728 rushing yards. Kenny Gainwell has added 289 yards. Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said the Bucs offensive line is physical. He noted the team plays hard and requires all 11 defenders to swarm the football.

Tampa Bay nose tackle Vita Vea is a key player. He has two Pro Bowl selections. He has one sack, two passes defended, and four quarterback hits this season. Rumors suggest he could be traded before Tuesday's deadline. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said he must account for such players. He said offensive play callers try to minimize the impact of top individual defenders.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield returns from injury. He missed three games with a dislocated thumb. He has completed seven of 14 passes since returning. He had no completions in three attempts on Sunday. Bears safety Cam Lewis called Mayfield a very good player. Lewis noted Mayfield's scrambling ability makes him dangerous. He said Mayfield tries to run defenders over or make explosive plays on the move. The Bears must cover their assignments and rally to the ball.

The game starts at 7:20 p.m. on NBC. It is the last of three straight prime time games for Chicago. The Bears will rest after this week.