Week 5 of the NFL season gets underway with a quarterback rematch from Super Bowl LII with both now on different teams as Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) visit Nick Foles and the Chicago Bears (3-1). Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday at Soldier Field in Chicago and will be televised on FOX and NFL Network.
These former NFC Central rivals have met 59 times in history with the Bears leading the series 39-20. They last met in 2018, as the Bears won at home 48-10 to end a two-game losing streak to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have lost two straight at Soldier Field since winning in overtime 27-24 back in 2008.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Preview: Keep Brady Going
After dropping their opener, the Bucs are on a roll with three straight wins, and they are 2-2 ATS this season, missing a cover by 0.5 points on Sunday. The Bucs offense ranks ninth in the NFL in passing yards (273.8 yards per game), 27th in rushing (97.8 yards per game) and ninth in scoring (30.0 points per game). The defense ranks fourth in yards allowed (312.0 yards per game), second against the run (64.3 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (23.0 points per game).
Sunday was the welcome to Tampa Bay game for Brady as he led a 17-point comeback with five touchdown passes. Brady went 30-for-46 for 369 yards and found nine different receivers with five different touchdown scorers. On the season, he has completed 65% of his passes for 1,122 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Running back Leonard Fournette (ankle) missed Sunday's game with an injury and is also unlikely to play Thursday. Running back Ronald Jones II picked up the slack rushing 20 times for 111 yards. Jones has 253 yards on the season with one touchdown.
With wide receiver Chris Godwin (hamstring) out, Mike Evans had seven catches for 122 yards and a score, while Scotty Miller had five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Evans has 17 catches for 230 yards and five touchdowns on the season while Miller has 15 catches for 250 yards. In addition to Fournette and Godwin, tight end O.J. Howard (Achilles) is also out for Thursday.
Chicago Bears Betting Preview: Fix the Offense
The Bears couldn't complete the comeback to stay unbeaten Sunday in a loss to the Colts, and they are now 2-2 ATS this season with both covers on the road. The offense ranks 21st in passing (232.8 yards per game), 20th in rushing (110.5 yards per game) and 25th in scoring (21.3 points per game).
Meanwhile, the defense has played well, ranking seventh in scoring defense (20.3 points per game), ninth in passing defense (230.3 yards per game) and eighth in total defense (345.3 yards per game).
In Sunday's loss, Foles was 26-for-42 for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his first start of the season. Foles has played a game and a half, completing 59% of his passes for 437 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
The running game was non-existent Sunday as running back David Montgomery ran 10 times for 27 yards and wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson ran three times for five yards. On the season, Montgomery has 218 yards at 4.1 yards per carry but has yet to rush for a touchdown this season. Running back Tarik Cohen is out for the season after getting hurt against the Falcons in Week 3
Wide receiver Allen Robinson had another 100-yard game Sunday, making seven catches for 101 yards with a score. Robinson leads the team in receptions (25) and yards (331), while tight end Jimmy Graham has a team-high three touchdowns. Wide receiver Anthony Miller has two touchdowns on the season with 133 yards.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears Betting Lines by Gameadvisers.com
● Buccaneers Spread: -6 (-110); Buccaneers Moneyline: -240
● Bears Spread: +6 (-110); Bears Moneyline: +200
● Total: 45 points (Over -110, Under -110)
Both teams have struggled to get going this season and have played better in second halves than before halftime. Tampa Bay completed its comeback Sunday, but the Bears did not.
The Chicago defense will be the toughest Brady has faced this year, and the Bucs' offensive line will have to be ready. Look for the Bears to keep this game close, especially at home and on a short week.
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Free Pick: Bears +6 (-110)
