What To Watch For: Bears-Buccaneers
By Chris Emma--
(CBS) Good vibes have filled Halas Hall this past week.
Even at 2-6, the Bears are feeling good. They're fresh off the bye week and riding a victory over the Vikings in Week 8. Now, they can make it a streak by beating the Buccaneers on Sunday in Tampa.
"Even before the win against Minnesota, I still felt good," Bears coach John Fox said Friday. "The guys were pulling and working in the right direction. So the spirit and the attitude and all those things were right. Now it's just a matter of getting Ws, and that's what we all get paid to do."
Of course, all the good feelings in Lake Forest would be diminished with a loss. The Bears are trying to stack wins and get back in the NFC North race.
Despite their first-half struggles, the Bears are three games back of first place in the division. The Vikings have been unraveling, the Packers are inconsistent and the Lions could be the team to beat.
At Halas Hall, the focus is on getting back in the hunt.
"We want another one, another one, another one," Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan said. "We want to keep stacking them. That's what great teams do. No matter where you're at, no matter what you're facing. We want to stack these wins together and prove that our work is not going unnoticed."
That starts at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. Here's what to watch for:
Balance beam
Success on offense has come with the Bears committing to Jordan Howard and a running game just as much as the air attack, creating a run-pass balance.
Credit goes to Dowell Loggains, the Bears' first-year offensive coordinator who has helped forge an offensive identity after his unit was put into flux with injuries. Now, Jay Cutler is back as the starting quarterback, Howard has emerged as a major threat in the backfield and the Bears have found recent success behind a strong offensive line.
Loggains has put his pieces to work and found production for his unit. The key, of course, is turning it into points, which the Bears need to do better. But balance is a start.
In the Bears' win over the Vikings, Cutler threw the ball 31 times and compiled 252 yards in the air, while Howard rushed 26 times for 153 yards on the ground.
Front force
Finally, we may see the Bears at full strength on defense. Their identity starts with the front seven, the work of general manager Ryan Pace through two offseasons.
Linebacker Pernell McPhee is listed as questionable but should be a go come Sunday. The larger question is whether nose tackle Eddie Goldman can return for his first work since suffering an ankle sprain in Week 2.
Goldman had a good week of practice but isn't 100 percent just yet, Fox said. His status may be determined just prior to kickoff in Tampa. Goldman's return to the Bears defense would be important.
The Bears were built for success up front, which starts with Goldman at the nose and Akiem Hicks at the five-technique. They have only been paired together for one full game.
Goldman's return means that it will be more difficult to run up the middle on this Bears defense. It also means more room for linebackers like Trevathan.
"It's going to free us up a lot and get a chance to go out there and roam," Trevathan said.
Big target
Getting pressure up front is just part of the Bears' challenge defensively. Slowing down dangerous Bucs receiver Mike Evans is the greater task.
Cleared from the concussion protocol this week, Evans is ready to play. He has eight touchdowns this season and has emerged as one of the game's most talented players. Quarterback Jameis Winston has clicked with his top target.
The Bears have some questions at cornerback, with Tracy Porter (knee) and Bryce Callahan (hamstring) both questionable to play Sunday. Who matches up with Evans remains to be seen, with health as the first factor in play.
Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio must devise a play to control Evans, whether that's bringing a safety over the top in coverage or simply counting on his corner to come through.
To Fangio's credit, he's had success slowing down big targets, whether it's Dez Bryant or Stefon Diggs. But Evans is a tough challenge ahead.
The Bears have to keep Evans from changing the game and preventing a winning streak from starting up.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.
