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 [September 18, 2023]
Baker Mayfield was 26-of-34 passing for 317 yards and a
touchdown and Mike Evans had six receptions for 171 yards and a
score to lift the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 27-17 win against
the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Tampa Bay (2-0) outgained Chicago 437-236 behind a balanced attack
that included 34 passing plays and 34 rushing plays.
Chicago fell to 0-2 while losing its 12th consecutive game dating to
last season.
The Bucs sacked Bears quarterback Justin Fields six times while
limiting him to 211 yards on 16-of-29 passing. Fields had one
touchdown and two interceptions while fumbling twice. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
had two sacks for Tampa Bay.
Chicago drew within 20-17 on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Fields to
Chase Claypool with 6:17 remaining. The Bears forced a punt on the
next Bucs' possession but Tampa Bay put the game away when Shaquil
Barrett intercepted Fields' screen pass from the end zone and
returned it for a 4-yard touchdown.
Tampa Bay capped the first possession of the game with Chase
McLaughlin's 26-yard field goal. The Bears responded quickly and
emphatically, covering 75 yards in six plays and 2:46 for a go-ahead
touchdown.
Fields scored on a 1-yard run after establishing an early connection
with DJ Moore, who had two receptions for 64 yards on the opening
drive. His 31-yard catch and run on third down put the Bears inside
the Bucs' 10-yard line.
Chicago's Rasheem Green blocked McLaughlin's 40-yard field goal
attempt, which set the Bears up at midfield with 14:49 to play in
the second quarter. They couldn't sustain the special teams'
momentum on offense, however, as the Bucs forced Chicago into a
three-and-out.
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Sep 17, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker
Shaquil Barrett (7) runs for a touchdown after an interception
against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Raymond James
Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
The Bucs went ahead on the next possession,
punctuating a four-play, 77-yard touchdown drive with Rachaad
White's 4-yard scoring run with 10:53 left in the second quarter.
The teams traded field goals before the end of the half, as Tampa
Bay took a 13-10 lead into intermission.
The Bucs' White led all rushers with 73 yards and a touchdown on 17
carries.
Chicago defensive backs Eddie Jackson (foot) and Jaquan Brisker
(illness) left the game in the first half, with Brisker returning
after halftime. The Bears already were without Josh Blackwell
(hamstring).
--Field Level Media
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