The Bears' season has had plenty of storylines so far, from injuries to inconsistent play. Despite this, they are 6-2 and one of the league's top teams. Over the past few weeks, they have played at an elite level. Chicago beat Atlanta 31-23, then the Patriots 30-24. The top moment of the three-game winning streak came in Seattle, when Chicago beat the Seahawks 34-17. Now, in Week Nine, they face another team that has been playing at a high level recently. The Buccaneers have looked strong in the past two weeks, and it will not be an easy matchup. If Chicago wishes to win a fourth straight game, there are three things they need to focus on.
Limit the Running Game
Tampa Bay has one of the hottest running games after beating the Falcons by running 56 times for 324 yards. The Buccaneers won without completing a pass, the first time a team has done so since 1974. It was the same as the previous week against the Panthers. They ran 49 times for 258 yards. Baker Mayfield has been asked to do very little, and it’s working out quite well.
On the flip side, the Bears defense has been stepping up over the past few weeks. Chicago allows 86.8 rushing yards per game, the fourth-lowest in the league. Jeffery Simmons looked great in his team debut and should continue to help elevate the defense. Mayfield is a talented quarterback, but since returning from his injury, he hasn’t done much. This is a game where Chicago needs to test him. If you let Tampa run the ball like they have been the last two weeks, it is hard to win. It won’t be easy, but they need to force the Buccaneers to beat them through the air.
Keep Getting Burden Involved
Luther Burden has been on a hot streak since Caleb Williams returned from his injury. Against the Falcons, he had eight catches for 95 yards. Then, the second-year receiver had four catches for 130 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots. This past week against Seattle, Burden caught seven passes for 56 yards and another touchdown. The explosive catches have been a huge reason for Chicago's offensive success the past few weeks.
Coming into 2026, Burden was expected to take the next step and become Williams' top target. He has shown why the coaching staff believes so highly in him. The 22-year-old receiver leads the team with 42 catches, 547 yards, and three receiving touchdowns. Chicago likes to get everyone involved offensively, but Burden has cemented himself as the team's top target. The Bears need to keep getting the second-year receiver involved. His speed forces opposing defenders to pay extra attention. This gives other receivers one-on-one matchups they can exploit. Burden’s breakout has been promising and is one of Chicago's biggest offensive keys this week.
Get Better Play From the Veteran Cornerbacks
The Bears defense has been looking solid this season, but one clear weakness remains: the cornerback room. Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson have struggled in 2026. Johnson has looked slow in coverage and inconsistent when tackling. Stevenson tackles aggressively but gets beat by receivers for large plays a few times each week. They are both talented, but neither looks playable. If the secondary is going to improve, at least one of them needs to step up. The secondary lacks a leader, and someone needs to step up.
Final Analysis
Chicago has had a strong 2026, but faces another difficult opponent. They need to find a way to control Tampa’s dangerous rushing attack. Burden needs to be heavily involved to help the Bears' passing game explode. Finally, the veteran cornerbacks need to start to turn their season around. These three factors are critical if Chicago wishes to extend their winning streak. The Bears have become a highly talked-about team, and they need to prove the hype is real.
