This past Sunday, the 23rd of November, in Week 12 of the NFL 2014 season, we got to see a couple of below-average teams play a interesting game. The now 2-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4th NFC South) lost to the now 4-6 Chicago Bears (3rd NFC North). The game was played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois and was see on Fox TV.
This was a game where there was no scoring in the first quarter, 10 points in the 2nd quarter giving Tampa Bay the lead at half-time 10-0, and then they were scoreless in the 3rd quarter, while the Bears offense came alive and scored 3 touchdowns, then when scoreless in the 4th quarter, while Tampa Bay scored 3 points, but could not overcome the deficit, thus they lost 13 to 21 to Tampa Bay.
Leading the offense for the Buccaneers was QB McCowan, who completed 25 of his 48 passes for 341 yards for 1 TD, while be intercepted 2 times, and sacked 5 times for combined loss of 40 yards. RBs Martin & Sims combined for 17 carries for 49 yards, while Receivers Jackson & Murphy combined for 230 yards. Tampa Bay had 17 first downs on 75 total plays, with 301 passing and 66 rushing yards, with 2 interceptions and 2 fumbles lost. They possessed the ball for 30:10 minutes of the game.
Offensive leaders for the Bears were QB Cutler, who completed 17 of his 27 passes for 1 TD, and was sacked some 3 times for losses totaling 18 yards. RB’s Forte & Carey combined for 26 carries for 92 yards with Forte scoring 2 TD’s. Receivers Bennett & Marshall combined for 7 receptions for 69 yards. Chicago had 12 first downs on 56 plays, with 112 passing yards and 92 rushing yards, with 1 fumble lost. They possessed the ball for some 29:50 minutes of the 60 minute game.
The Buccaneers came into this game hoping earn a second consecutive win, but the team just collapsed in the 3rd quarter, after the dominated the 1st half of the game they allowed the Bears to score 21 points that 15 minutes, without scoring themselves.
On the other side the Bears playing against their former coach Smith, their defense played his game of takeaways, as in the beginning of the 2nd half the Bears amassed 14 points in the 3rd quarter from 3 takeaways from the Buccaneers. However, the Bears were lucky to win this game as the team and QB Cutler have been struggling. QB Cutler fumbled in this game for his 18th time, as he leads all NFL QB’s with 18 turnovers for the season.
If you are one to bet on NFL at a sportbook, let it be known that next week 14 of the NFL the Buccaneers now 2-9 will play at home against the Cincinnati Bengals now 7-3-1 (1st AFC North) on Sunday the 30th of Nov. at 1 PM ET and on CBS TV. The Bears now 5-6 play at the Detroit Lions now 7-4 (2nd NFC North) on Thanksgiving day the 27th of November 2014 at 12:30 PM ET at the Ford Field in Detroit and on CBS TV.