Bucs Fall to Bears Despite Four Takeaways

Tampa Bay’s defense repeatedly gave its offense chances, but the Buccaneers managed only three points after the unit forced four turnovers. The 27-24 defeat left the team with a 3-6 record and made the offense’s struggles central to the narrow loss.

Bucky Irving scored twice, including a touchdown in his hometown of Chicago and a tying score with less than three minutes remaining. Zyon McCollum intercepted Caleb Williams twice, while safety Tykee Smith added an interception and made six tackles. Smith stepped up after Antoine Winfield Jr. left with an ankle injury.

The defense’s plays did not translate into enough points. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw two interceptions, one returned for a Bears touchdown, and Tampa Bay’s offense could not make the most of the takeaways. The team also had multiple false-start penalties.

Coach Todd Bowles’ decisions to kick field goals rather than go for it on fourth down and attempt a late-half score drew criticism. One decision came on fourth-and-four at Chicago’s four-yard line; an ESPN analytics model put Tampa Bay’s chance of winning two percentage points higher if it had gone for the first down. The other field goal left the Bucs trailing 17-6 at halftime. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson was also faulted for the run-heavy approach and for failing to build an effective passing game.