Chicago Bears vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Match Player Stats On Dec 27, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 27, 2015

TAMPA -- The Chicago Bears converted two fumbles into 10 points, leading the way to a 26-21 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Running back Doug Martin took over the NFL rushing lead for the Bucs, but his two fumbles were huge in shifting momentum to the Bears, who got a second-quarter field goal off the first fumble and a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter off the second.

Chicago (6-9) got strong running -- and zero fumbles -- from Jeremy Langford and Matt Forte in handing the Bucs (6-9) their third straight loss. The Bears' backfield tandem combined for 137 yards on the ground.

Lovie Smith lost to his old team for the second time in as many seasons.

The Bucs got a touchdown with 0:01 left as rookie Jameis Winston hit tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins for a 43-yard score.

The Bears took the lead on Jay Cutler's 1-yard throw to running back Ka'Deem Carey on the first play of the fourth and would add a field goal.

Winston, whose 50-yard touchdown pass had given the Bucs a 14-13 lead in the third quarter, twice got inside the Chicago 25 without scoring.

His third-down interception from the 12-yard line killed one drive, and the Bucs were at the 24 in the fourth quarter when a snap rolled low past Winston for a 10-yard loss, setting up a missed field goal from 52 yards to keep it a two-score game.

Robbie Gould had four field goals for Chicago, including a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter.

The Bucs' only scoring in the first half came off a blocked punt by linebacker Jeremiah George, with the loose ball recovered at the 4-yard line, setting up a Martin touchdown on the next play. The Bears answered for a 10-7 halftime lead, converting two Bucs penalties on their touchdown drive and a Martin fumble into the go-ahead field goal.

Martin has the NFL rushing lead for a few hours -- Minnesota's Adrian Peterson plays in the Sunday Night Football game against the New York Giants.

NOTES: Bears WR Alshon Jeffery was inactive after catching just one pass last week. ... The Bears were already without TE Martellus Bennett (injured reserve). With Jeffery out, the rest of the Bears' receivers have a total of three touchdown catches this season. Backup Josh Bellamy will start in Jeffery's place. ... Bucs S Chris Conte missed his first game of the season with a knee injury. Keith Tandy started in his place. Tandy has worked at safety and nickel defensive back this season. ... Bucs WR Vincent Jackson (knee) and backup defensive end Kourtnei Brown (groin) missed Sunday's game.