Bears Edge Bucs 27-24 in Week 9

Tampa Bay forced five turnovers but fell short against Chicago after trailing for most of the game.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football

The Chicago Bears defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 in Week 9. The Buccaneers forced five turnovers on defense but trailed 14-0 in the second quarter and never fully recovered.

Why it matters

The loss came as Tampa Bay headed into its bye week, and it raised questions about the team's play-calling and fourth-down decisions. Head coach Todd Bowles chose field goals over touchdown attempts in three scenarios.

Tampa Bay forced five turnovers, yet the Bucs trailed 17-3 before halftime and 24-13 in the fourth quarter. Chicago's Caleb Williams entered the game averaging 30 points, and the final margin was three points.

The players

Todd Bowles

Todd Bowles is the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and made the decision to choose field goals over touchdown attempts in three scenarios.

Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams is the quarterback of the Chicago Bears, who entered the game averaging 30 points per contest.

The details

Tampa Bay chose a field goal on fourth down at the four-yard line after taking a delay of game penalty, and later kicked a field goal from the three-yard line before halftime. The Bucs scored coming out of the break to cut the lead to 17-13 before Chicago pulled away late.

Week 9: Bears defeat Buccaneers 27-24.

Season Trajectory

Tampa Bay's loss arrives as the NFL's league-wide push toward aggressive fourth-down play continues to grow in influence. The Buccaneers' conservative choices in this game put them at odds with that trend and may draw scrutiny as the season moves forward.

The Buccaneers now head into their bye week, giving the team time to reassess its fourth-down approach before its next game. Fantasy managers who rostered Tampa Bay players should note the turnover-heavy performance and the team's point-scoring struggles.

The takeaway

Tampa Bay's defense created five takeaways, but the offense's inability to convert them into points cost the team the game. Fans tracking the team should watch how Bowles approaches fourth-down decisions after the bye.