Tampa Bay offense vs. Chicago defense

	BUCCANEERS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	17
	Pass	30
	Tot. Yds.	28
	Scoring	26
	Int's allowed	16
	Sacks allowed	41
	BEARS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	6
	vs. Pass	29
	Total yds. allowed	30
	# of Ints.	14
	# of Sacks	36
	Turnover differential	-2

For the second straight week, the Bears face a weapon that exposes their greatest weakness -- lack of speed at linebacker. St. Louis' Marshall Faulk had a career-game last Sunday, piling up 258 yards from scrimmage -- 204 of which came in the passing game. Chicago went after the quarterback with a blitz-heavy scheme that sadly didn't produce a single sack. Kurt Warner simply flipped the ball to Faulk, who carved up a depleted Bears' back-seven in the open field.

Tampa will use RB Warrick Dunn in a similar role this Sunday in attempt to take pressure off rookie QB Shaun King. Neither MLB Barry Minter nor rookie OLB Warrick Holdman will be able to stick with Dunn, who the team likes to isolate on crossing routes and short dump-offs underneath.

The Bucs went with maximum protection for the majority of the game last week against Green Bay, holding the Packers without a sack. While this strategy kept defenders off King, it also reduced the number of options he had in the passing game. Tampa should be able to get by with limited protection schemes this week against a Bear pass rush that could feature many of the team's younger players.

Chicago would like to give rookies Russell Davis and Roosevelt Colvin a look on Sunday to gauge their respective progress. If that's the case, Chicago's secondary must play more fundamentally sound than it did a week ago. Rookie DC Jerry Azumah, who might start in place of injured Walt Harris, was the only defensive back that tackled well against the Rams. The rest of the secondary must elevate their games this week if they don't want to end what has been a fairly positive year on a sour note.

Tampa ran the ball extremely well in the first meeting between these division rivals, piling up 124 yards on just 28 attempts (4.4 avg.) but 31 of those came on scrambles by QB Trent Dilfer. King doesn't pose much of a threat with his feet but the key will be Dungy's willingness to commit to the ground game for four quarters.

Chicago offense vs. Tampa Bay defense

	BEARS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	26
	Pass	2
	Tot. Yds.	7
	Scoring	23
	Int's allowed	21
	Sacks allowed	36
	BUCCANEERS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	6
	vs. Pass	3
	Total yds. allowed	2
	# of Ints.	20
	# of Sacks	41
	Turnover differential	-7

Injuries sustained by many of the starters last week, coupled with the fact that the team has no shot at the playoffs, will dictate numerous personnel changes for the Bears on Sunday. QB Cade McNown was sacked four times last week by the Rams and was subsequently knocked out of the game with a strained right side. The team would like to get one last look at McNown before the off-season.

If McNown can't start, look for backup Shane Matthews to get some more time this week. Matthews played admirably in relief last week, posting solid numbers (23-of-39, 266 yds., 2 TD, 1 INT) against mostly prevent coverages.

Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin blitzed just 17 percent of passing downs last week against the Packers and will most likely take the same approach this week against Chicago's multiple-receiver sets. The Bucs got consistent pressure on Brett Favre with their front four but they sacked him just once.

Tampa should have more success this week against a Bears' offensive line that will feature the second start by rookie ROG Rex Tucker. Tucker faced a speed player last week in St. Louis' D'Marco Farr and gave up one sack; but containing Pro Bowler Warren Sapp will be a much more difficult task for the young hog.

The Bears will see a lot of three-deep zone coverage that will discourage them from going vertical with WRs Marcus Robinson and Bobby Engram. FS Damien Robinson patrolled the deep third of the field better than he had all season in last Sunday's victory, intercepting two passes and delivering big hits when Green Bay's receivers ran crossing routes.

In order to move the ball this week, Chicago must incorporate the tight end into the passing game. The Bucs have been susceptible against the tight end at times this season and the loss of underneath WR Curtis Conway (injured reserve) will put pressure on the Bears' tight ends to produce. The TE trio of John Allred, Ryan Wetnight, and Alonzo Mayes combined for seven receptions and 84 yards last week against a Rams' linebacker corps that compares favorably to Tampa's athletic group.

Whoever plays at quarterback for the Bears must always be aware of OLB Derrick Brooks, who intercepted a pair of passes earlier in the season when the teams met at Raymond James Stadium.

Last Sunday, the Bucs held the Packers to just 12 yards rushing -- the second lowest total in Green Bay's rich history. Tampa used a double-zone look that put pressure on the front four to stop the run and the unit came through, mostly because of the depth that kept everyone fresh.

The Bears, who are averaging just 87.7 yards per game on the ground, could have a hard time reaching that figure with a speed back like Allen. Teams that have had success running the ball against Tampa this season have generally been able to pound the ball inside with a bigger runner.

Special teams

	NFL RANK
	Category	CHI	TB
	Punt return avg.	2	22
	Kickoff return avg.	9	18
	Opp. punt return avg.	8	7
	Opp. kickoff ret. avg.	1	2
	Time of possession	20	4

The Bears rid themselves of another kicker this week when they released Chris Boniol, who missed an extra point last week against the Rams. Jarrett Holmes inherits the job and he'll face great pressure, both from the weather and the circumstance, this week against the Bucs. In a matchup that exclusively showcased the kickers earlier in the season, Tampa has the clear advantage with steady Martin Gramatica. One positive the Bears could pull from last week's loss at St. Louis was the performance of P Todd Sauerbrun, who averaged an amazing 51.8 yards on five attempts. The Bucs' special teams pulled a fast one on the Packers, as well as the officials, in last Sunday's win. Damien Robinson, who usually lines up in a wing position on punts, took off from the tackle position and caught a pass from punter Mark Royals on a clever fake. What Ray Rhodes and the referees didn't notice was that Robinson should have been declared as an illegal man downfield on the play. Credit the Bucs' coaching staff for giving the play a try in pivotal game.

Key matchups