Bears-Bucs Preview

Here's my preview of this afternoon's Bears-Bucs tilt:

Who Has the Edge?

Offense
After saving his job last week, Rex Grossman can relax just a little bit more today. It will still be important to follow the keys to last week's game plan: run the ball well with Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, and remember the intermediate routes to Muhsin Muhammad and TE Desmond Clark. Once the Bears establish the run, then hit the Bucs with play action. It's not so hard, it it? The Bucs will try to pound the Bears' depleted D-line with Cadillac Williams and the ageless Mike Alstott, then try to hit WR Joey Galloway deep. Even though Galloway is up there in age, he still has the elite speed that can easily toast Bears CBs Charles Tillman and Ricky Manning Jr. Edge: Bears

Defense
Thanks to the Tank Johnson fiasco, the Bears are now down to just three true defensive tackles: Ian Scott, Alfonso Boone, and Antonio Garay. Israel Idonije can play both tackle and end. With Nathan Vasher due to miss another game and Todd Johnson questionable, the secondary also remains depleted. The pass rush will take a hit, but the run defense may actually improve slightly because Scott and Boone are better run stuffers than pass rushers. The key for the Bear defense will be to stall the Cadillac and rattle Bruce Gradkowski/Tim Rattay/anyone else that Chucky decides to throw out there at QB. They'll also need to make sure that whoever happens to be covering Galloway has safety help, because Galloway can still burn anyone. The Bucs D has improved against the run in the past few games, but they still haven't done well against the pass. With Simeon Rice out for the season and players like Derrick Brooks up there in age, this unit just isn't quite what it used to be, but it can still be effective. The key for them will be to limit the Bears' running game and try to force Grossman into turnovers. Edge: Bears

Special Teams
There aren't enough superlatives to describe what Devin Hester has done this season, but Robbie Gould uncharacteristically missed both of his field goal attempts against the Rams last week, so he needs to rebound today. The Bucs have still never returned a kickoff for a TD in franchise history, while kicker Matt Bryant has four misses from 40+ yards but has that 62-yard game-winner to brag about. Edge: Bears

Coaching
Lovie Smith needs to keep his team together after the Tank Johnson fiasco, and did the right thing in deactivating Johnson for this game. Johnson likely has played his final snap as a Bear. He has had multiple chances already to stay out of trouble, but he just can't seem to do it. Jon Gruden's job may be in jeopardy in Tampa, where it has been almost all downhill since their Super Bowl win in the 2002 season. Edge: Bears

Intangibles
How will the Bears players react to the Tank Johnson situation? The bigger question might be how the defense will hold up with so many starters out. Edge: Even

Prediction
Even with all the turmoil surrounding the Bears right now... the Bucs just aren't very good. Bears 24, Bucs 3