Bears vs. Buccaneers Point Spread: NFL Week 2 Odds, Prediction
It’s an NFC battle in Week 2 of the NFL season on Sunday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play host to the Chicago Bears. Tampa Bay rolled to a 20-17 road win against Minnesota in Week 1, while the Bears ended up on the wrong side of a 38-20 pounding at home against Green Bay.
The Bucs are 2.5-point favourites to win on the NFL odds, while the total sits at 41.0.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
These teams are an even 5-5 against each other over the last 10 head-to-heads. They haven’t met since Week 7 of the 2021 season. Tampa Bay pulled out a 38-3 home victory on the strength of four touchdown passes by Tom Brady. Chicago’s Justin Fields, playing in his rookie season, threw three interceptions. Brady has since retired, while Fields has struggled to find consistent results.
The home team is riding a five-game win streak in the all-time series and has come out on top in seven of the last 10 meetings. The Over/Under has split evenly in the last 10 games, although the Under has hit in three of the last four games.
Chicago Bears
After upgrading the roster in the off-season, there were higher expectations for the Bears in 2023. Instead, Week 1 exposed a team that looks very similar to the one that set a franchise record for losses in a 3-14 season last year. It was Chicago’s 11th straight loss overall and 10th in a row against an NFC North opponent. Fields completed 24 of 37 pass attempts for 216 yards, one touchdown and one interception. It’s still far from certain Fields, who also had a game-high 59 rushing yards, is the Bears’ longterm answer at quarterback.
Canadian receiver Chase Claypool was nearly invisible last week against the Packers. Claypool, who was supposed to be a key part of Chicago’s offence, was targeted twice, recording no receptions. And don’t expect to see safety Kyler Gordon in Week 2. Gordon left last week’s game with a hand injury and did not practice Wednesday. Early reports say Gordon’s absence could last multiple weeks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield made a solid first impression with Tampa Bay, doing just enough to earn a win against a tough Minnesota team. Mayfield completed 21 of 34 pass attempts for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Mayfield, the first overall pick in the 2018 draft, is playing for his fourth team in the last three years. He threw TD passes to Mike Evans and Trey Palmer. Chase McLaughlin, who signed with the Buccaneers in the off-season, also made a good first impression. McLaughlin went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, including matching a career-long 57-yard field to put Tampa Bay ahead late in the fourth quarter.
Linebacker Lavonte David left last week’s game in the fourth quarter after colliding with a teammate. David had been in concussion protocol, but he was not listed on the Buccaneers’ Wednesday injury report and will likely play on Sunday. Defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, a first round draft pick in 2023, is listed as day-to-day with a calf injury.
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