This game has the looks of a defensive slugfest.  The Buccaneers will be given Brian Griese his 2nd start of the season against the team he played for last season.  Without WR Joey Galloway playing tomorrow the Bucs will likely lean more on the running game which would be smart on there part as they are averaging 155.0 yards rushing and 6.5 ypc this season.  Earnest Graham has been an absolute beast this season rushing for 207 yards on 25 carries (8.3 ypc) and Warrick Dunn seems to have found the Fountain of Youth (103 yards rushing, 4.9 ypc) but yards won’t come easy against Brian Urlacher and his buddies who are only allowing 83.5 yards rushing per game and 3.6 ypc.  Look for the Bucs to use their TEs and RBs a lot more in this game when throwing the ball than usual as they don’t have a legit deep threat playing in this game.

The Bears are going to do what they always do and that’s run the football.  Rookie Matt Forte has been excellent this season (215 yards rushing, 4.7 ypc) but he will have a tough task finding yards against a defense that is only allowing 103.0 yards rushing per game and 3.7 ypc.  The Bears will likely be without KR/WR Devin Hester in this game so don’t expect the Bears to get many big plays off special teams.  That means that they will have to take the training wheels off of QB Kyle Orton and let him throw the ball downfield against a Bucs’ defense that is allowing 250.5 yards passing per game this season.

PREDICTION:  TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 17, CHICAGO BEARS 16