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Bears, Buccaneers set for defensive showdown

Sep 19, 2008 - 1:39 PM Tampa Bay (1-1) at Chicago (1-1), 1:00 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Don't expect much offense.

The Chicago Bears will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in a battle between two hard-nosed, defensive-minded teams.

The Bears (1-1) and Buccaneers (1-1) have had two of the better defenses for the last decade. A dominating defense led Tampa Bay to its only championship during the 2002-03 season and Chicago used the same formula four years later but fell short in the Super Bowl.

Both defenses have impressed this season. The Bears kept the Indianapolis Colts' imposing offense in check in their season-opening victory before squandering a 14-point second-half lead to the Carolina Panthers last week.

Chicago held the Panthers to just 216 yards from scrimmage but tight end Greg Olsen fumbled twice and the offense failed to get going after the first two drives.

"It seemed like the second half we were getting the ball backed up quite a bit," Chicago quarterback Kyle Orton said. "First half we made some nice drives when were backed up, so that's not an excuse. They played well in the second half and we didn't do enough to win the football game."

The Bears have received a boost from rookie Matt Forte, who rushed for 215 yards and a touchdown on 46 carries over his first two games.

The Bucs turned in a dominating defensive performance during Sunday's 24-9 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Tampa Bay intercepted Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan twice and did not allow the rookie to complete a pass on his first nine attempts.

Brian Griese, who replaced an ailing Jeff Garcia as the team's staring quarterback after the season-opening loss to the rival New Orleans Saints, played smart and did not commit any turnovers.

Griese passed for 160 yards and a touchdown, ensuring that he would be the starter for at least one more week. Garcia has made his displeasure with being benched public knowledge and his future with the Bucs is uncertain.

It doesn't matter who's under center, they will get plenty of help from Earnest Graham, who rushed for 116 yards Sunday - including a 68-yard, victory-sealing touchdown burst in the fourth quarter.

Graham, who emerged as the starter last year and rushed for 898 yards and 10 scores, has 207 yards on 25 carries this season.