TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS ONE BUCCANEER PLACE, TAMPA FLORIDA TEL (813) 554-1311 2018 WEEKLY PRESS RELEASE FAX (813) 387-6317 COMMUNICATIONS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-1) AT CHICAGO BEARS (2-1) SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1:00 P.M. ET SOLDIER FIELD (61,500) NETWORK TELEVISION: FOX PLAY-BY-PLAY: THOM BRENAMAN ANALYST: CHRIS SPIELMAN SIDELINE: SHANNON SPAKE BUCS RADIO: 98ROCK, FLAGSHIP STATION (WXTB-97.9 FM) PLAY-BY-PLAY: GENE DECKERHOFF ANALYST: DAVE MOORE SIDELINE: T.J. RIVES LAST GAME: TAMPA BAY LOST VS. PITTSBURGH, 30-27; CHICAGO WON AT ARIZONA, 16-14 ALL-TIME SERIES 2018 Schedule and Results (2-1) DATE OPPONENT (TV) TIME/RESULT 9/9 at New Orleans (FOX) W, 48-40 Chicago leads the all-time series 38-20, with Tampa Bay having won the past two meetings, both at Raymond 9/16 PHILADELPHIA (FOX) W, 27-21 James Stadium: 36-10, in 2016, and 29-7 in 2017. The teams played in 2011 in London, with Chicago prevailing, 9/24 PITTSBURGH (ESPN) L, 30-27 24-18, despite two fourth-quarter touchdowns from Tampa Bay. In 2008, the teams squared off in Chicago. The 9/30 at Chicago (FOX) 1:00 p.m. Buccaneers scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and Tampa Bay K Matt Bryant hit a 21-yard Bye Week field goal to win it for the Buccaneers, 27-24, in OT. In 2004, the Buccaneers won 19-7 in Tampa. In 2002, Tampa 10/14 at Atlanta (FOX) 1:00 p.m. Bay’s first season in the newly-created NFC South, the Buccaneers won 15-0 in Champaign, Illinois in the regular 10/21 CLEVELAND (FOX) 1:00 p.m. season finale clinching a first-round bye and the most wins in team history. Until that time, the Bears and Buc- 10/28 at Cincinnati (FOX) 1:00 p.m. caneers were both members of the NFC Central Division. Chicago snapped a six-game Bucs winning streak by 11/4 at Carolina (FOX) 1:00 p.m. defeating Tampa Bay with a 13-10 win in Chicago in 2000, then made it three in a row with two victories in 2001. 11/11 WASHINGTON (FOX) 1:00 p.m. The Bears’ win in 2001 was their first in Raymond James Stadium and their first in Tampa since 1995. 11/18 at N.Y. Giants (FOX) 1:00 p.m. 11/25 SAN FRANCISCO 1:00 p.m. 12/2 CAROLINA (FOX) 1:00 p.m. 12/9 NEW ORLEANS (FOX) 1:00 p.m. 12/16 at Baltimore (FOX) 1:00 p.m. 12/23 at Dallas (FOX) 1:00 p.m. REGULAR SEASON SERIES BY THE NUMBERS 12/30 ATLANTA (ESPN) 1:00 p.m. HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS - All Times Eastern Overall Regular Season Series ..................................................................................Chicago leads series, 38-20 ^ Subject to Flexible Scheduling Home Record vs. Chicago Bears .................................................................................................................14-17 Road Record vs. Chicago Bears ....................................................................................................................6-21 BUCCANEERS PR TWITTER AND MEDIA SITE Current Streak ................................................................................................Buccaneers, two games (2016-17) Buccaneers Longest Streak............................................................................................. Six games (1997-2000) Bears Longest Streak............................................................................................................12 games (1983-88) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Communications staff is on Twitter: Regular Season Point Total ...................................................................................Buccaneers 952 – Bears 1,231 @BuccaneersComms, the department’s official Twitter account, Most Points, Buccaneers ........................................................................................42, Buccaneers 42-35 (1989) which provides media members with the latest updates on Most Points, Bears ........................................................................................................... 48, Bears 48-14 (1988) schedules and transactions, as well as notes and facts about the Most Points, both teams .........................................................................................77, Buccaneers 42-35 (1989) team and its activities. Fewest Points, Buccaneers .........................................................................0, five times, last Bears 27-0 (1991) Fewest Points, Bears .................................................................................0, twice, last Buccaneers 15-0 (2002) For all of the team’s publicity material, visit buccaneers.com/ Fewest Points, both teams............................................................................................9, Buccaneers 6-3 (1999) media. There, users will find updated statistics, game notes, bios, Largest Win, Buccaneers ............................................................................... 41 points, Buccaneers 41-0 (2000) rosters, the 2018 Buccaneers Media Guide and more, plus the latest Largest Win, Bears .................................................................................................. 35 points, Bears 44-9 (1984) releases from the team. Nelson Luis Michael Pehanich Allen Barrett Chris King Brooke Skelley Vice President of Communications Director of Communications Senior Communications Manager Senior Communications Coordinator Communications Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] STATISTICAL COMPARISON A look at how the teams match up in the 2018 season rankings: Category Tampa Bay Chicago Total Offense 1st (473.3 ypg) 26th (293.7 ypg) Rushing Offense 30th (72.7 ypg) 12th (115.7 ypg) Passing Offense 1st (410.0 ypg) 28th (197.0 ypg) Total Defense 31st (433.3 ypg) 5th (289.0 ypg) Rushing Defense 3rd (70.7 ypg) 2nd (65.3 ypg) Passing Defense t31st (362.7 ypg) 11th (223.7 ypg) Points Scored t3rd (34.0 ppg) 18th (21.0 ppg) Points Allowed 29th (30.3 ppg) t8th (18.3 ppg) Sacks t17th (7.0) 1st (14.0) Sacks Allowed t7th (5.0) t22nd (9.0) Turnover Margin t17th (-1) t4th (+3) Team Leaders Tampa Bay Chicago Rushing Yards Peyton Barber (124) Jordan Howard (178) Rushing Touchdowns Ryan Fitzpatrick (1) J. Howard, M. Trubisky (1) Passer Rating Ryan Fitzpatrick (124.8 - 2nd, NFL) Mitchell Trubisky (77.8) Passing Yards Ryan Fitzpatrick (1,230 - 1st, NFL) Mitchell Trubisky (591) Passing Touchdowns Ryan Fitzpatrick (11 - 2nd, NFL) Mitchell Trubisky (2) Receptions Mike Evans (23 - 7th, NFL) Allen Robinson (17) Receiving Yards Mike Evans (367 - 2nd, NFL) Allen Robinson (194) Receiving Touchdowns Three tied (3 - t 3rd) T. Burton, A. Miller (1) Tackles Lavonte David (27 - t8th, NFL) Danny Trevathan (20) Sacks Jason Pierre-Paul (3.0 - t6th, NFL) Khalil Mack (4.0 - t1st, NFL) Interceptions Justin Evans (1) Five tied (1) PLANNED WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 11:50 a.m. - Open Locker Room 11:25 a.m. - OC Todd Monken Media Availability No Media Availability 12:45 p.m. - DC Mike Smith Media Availability 11:35 a.m. - QB Media Availability/Open Locker 1:00 p.m. - Chicago HC Matt Nagy Conf. Call Room (45 minutes) SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 with Tampa Bay media. 12:50 p.m. - Practice (Open first 30 minutes) 1:00 p.m. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Chicago 1:10 p.m. - Practice (Open first 30 minutes) 2:50 p.m. - HC Dirk Koetter Media Availability Bears at Soldier Field 1:15 p.m. - Chicago Player Conf. Call with Tampa Bay media. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 - ALL TIMES EASTERN - 3:15 p.m. - HC Dirk Koetter Media Availability 10:50 a.m. - Practice (Open first 30 minutes) 12:00 p.m. - HC Dirk Koetter & Player Media Availability (On-field) 2 TAMPA BAY AT CHICAGO NEW & NOTABLE OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION Tampa Bay’s offense has been on a historic pace through the first three games The Buccaneers offense has been one of the best in the NFL under Dirk of the season. The team's 1,420 yards of offense are the seventh-most in NFL Koetter, ranking in the top 10 in both total yards and passing yards since history through the first three games, while the team's 1,202 passing yards he joined the team in 2015. are the second-most through the first three games in NFL history. This season has seen the Buccaneers offense reach new heights. Through MOST YARDS THROUGH FIRST THREE GAMES three games, Tampa Bay leads the league in total yards per game, passing (NFL History) yards per game, yards per play and tied for third in points scored. Team Year Yards 2018 NFL MOST NET YARDS PER GAME 1. New England 2011 1,621 2. San Francisco 1998 1,599 Rank Team Yds./Gm. 3. St. Louis 2000 1,518 1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 473.3 4. Denver 2013 1,460 2. Pittsburgh Steelers 453.3 5. L.A. Rams 1951 1,456 3. Los Angeles Rams 439.3 6. Buffalo 1991 1,423 4. New Orleans Saints 428.0 7. Tampa Bay 2018 1,420 5. Los Angeles Chargers 415.3 8. San Diego 1984 1,418 9. New England 1994 1,386 2018 NFL MOST PASSING YARDS PER GAME 10. Philadelphia 2013 1,385 Rank Team Yds./Gm. 1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 410.0 MOST PASSING YARDS THROUGH FIRST THREE GAMES OF A SEASON 2. Pittsburgh Steelers 380.0 (NFL History) 3. New Orleans Saints 359.3 4. Minnesota Vikings 321.7 Team Year Yards 4. Los Angeles Rams 313.7 1. New England 2011 1,313 2. Tampa Bay 2018 1,202 2018 NFL HIGHEST YARDS PER PLAY 3. St. Louis 2000 1,201 4. Denver 2013 1,184 Rank Team Yds./Play 5. New England 1994 1,154 1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7.51 2. Los Angeles Chargers 6.88 The Buccaneers have scored 102 points through the first three games, a 3. Kansas City Chiefs 6.75 team record for points scored through the first three games. 4. Los Angeles Rams 6.62 5. New Orleans Saints 6.52 Dating back to last season, the Buccaneers have totaled at least 425 yards of offense in each of their past four games, extending their franchise record. 2018 NFL MOST POINTS PER GAME They join the L.A. Chargers (11/19/17-12/10/17) as the only two teams to post Rank Team Pts./Gm. at least four consecutive games with at least 425 yards of offense since 2015. 1. Kansas City Chiefs 39.3 2. New Orleans Saints 34.7 The Buccaneers have totaled at least 390 net passing yards in each 3.