Bears matchup well against this team. Their RB, Blount, is out for this game last I heard. The Bucs are one of the worst teams in the NFL at rushing the passer. Their defense is last in sacks. Martz can actually dial up some seven step drops with 4 WRs for this game. Just don't go crazy with that shit.

The Bucs QB is decent but nobody is scared of him. They don't have any great WRs. They're a below average offense. They want to dink and dunk their way up the field which plays into what the Bears want teams to do. We should be able to rip that ball out a couple of times for some take aways. Maybe a pick, although this QB doesnt throw many. Devin returns one for the London people to see in person.

Bears - 31
Bucs - 17

Even if Blount plays, he is the type of RB the Bears should be fine in defending. He is slow and one dimensional.

I think the Bears win this game handily. Dr. Ken will be watching for the progress of Aurelious Benn

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Didn't the Bucs play in London last year? I think that experience gives them a leg up on the Bears.

2 years ago...got blown out by the Patriots.

I think the Bucs traveling early to get their body clocks acclimated to the time is helpful.

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The Pats traveled on the same schedule the Bears are this time.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Are so suggesting the Bears are as good as the 2009 Patriots?

Freeman doesn't have to dink and dunk. Actually, they proved against the Saints that they are better when he's given more responsibility and throwing down the field. I don't see why they wouldn't continue that against a bad Bears secondary. And their corners will kill Cutler if he throws up his usual 5-6 suspect throws a game. I agree Cutler should have time, if he takes advantage of that and doesn't turn the ball over they should win. I'm not confident that will happen.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

So did the Bucs...that's why they went early this year. I think if the Bears try to stick to a schedule where they don't shift times (i.e. treat 7 PM Sunday as if it's Noon), they will be fine.

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No. I am suggesting the travel schedules do not really matter.

The Bucs got beat last time they went to England because they sucked at football, not because of when they traveled.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

You would think the league would figure out the best schedule for the teams and mandate it since this is more of a league production.

It would seem to me that the two teams should play Thursday night games in the prior week, leave during the weekend and then have the next week as a bye.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

If they are using that vein of logic I think they should also have the Patriots, Packers or a team like that as the "home" team. An elite team wouldn't be as effected by losing a home game as much as a young up and comer like Tampa.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I was watching Sky Sports on Fox Soccer Channel and the did an interview with former Bucs QB Brad Johnson and he talked about the NFL putting a team in London and that he could see England's "fervent fan base" (his words) would support the team...I think he was hit in the head one too many times...I dont see that happening. Too much of a logistical nightmare.

This is a hard one to figure for 2 reasons. First, the Buccaneers may be a first place team in the NFC South, but it's hard to say which Tampa teams shows up. Is it the one that beat the Saints & Falcons at their regular home at Raymond James Stadium? Is it the one that got clobbered by 45 in San Francisco? Is it the one that overcame 14 penalties to beat the Peyton Manning-less Colts on "Monday Night Football"? The only thing I'm reasonably sure about these Bucs is that RB LeGarrette Blount is likely sitting this one out with a knee injury.

As for the Bears, while they are following the same concept as Tampa Bay's opponent in this game in 2009, the Patriots, I kinda wish Lovie Smith's guys were already across the pond preparing for this unusual road game. I'm not sure how the jet lag will affect these guys and what kind of rhythm they'll have at least at the start of this game.

I think this is the 5th such regular season game ever played in London, and not the last such American-style matchup for the NFL. I don't think these games have been all that entertaining since London started hosting this game in 2006. It will not be a work of art by any stretch of the imagination. I give the Bears a very small win, 20-17.

I think you would be hard pressed to get an elite team to give up a home date.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Do they have a choice? I can't imagine Tampa volunteered.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Tampa has been one of those NFL cities that hasn't been a box office draw for quite sometime. Besides, I thought the team's owner was also an owner of soccer's Manchester United.