The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-1 on the season, but optimism around the Bucs has been tempered by the fear that, at some point, their defensive woes won’t be able to be bailed out by the offense.
On Sunday, that fear came to fruition in the form of a disastrous first half in Chicago, where Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had a career day in the first half. Trubisky entered Sunday with a career-high of two touchdown passes and more than doubled it in the first 30 minutes of action, completing 14-of-18 passes for 289 yards and a ridiculous five touchdowns.
The Bucs’ defense has been miserable against the pass all season, allowing at least 340 yards through the air to each of their first three opponents. Trubisky is well on his way there, and in an early season full of poor efforts from Tampa Bay, he managed to give them their most embarrassing game yet.
The first touchdown from Trubisky came courtesy of a blown coverage by the Bucs on play action, leaving Trey Burton all alone down the sideline for a 39-yard bomb.
Trubisky. Burton.
39-yard @ChicagoBears TD! #DaBears #TBvsCHI
📺: FOX https://t.co/k4DDRJuh2F
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018
Trubisky’s second touchdown pass was his most impressive, as he dropped one in the bucket to Allen Robinson on a corner route.
.@MTrubisky10's 2nd TD of the first quarter!@AllenRobinson hauls it in. #DaBears #TBvsCHI
📺: FOX https://t.co/bQz9mh7N7w
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018
The third touchdown of the day from Mitchell was on a little Texas route from Tarik Cohen inside the red zone.
Trubisky's THIRD TD of the half goes to @TarikCohen! #DaBears #TBvsCHI https://t.co/D06OJ8izIO
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018
His fourth touchdown was a nice play design and execution on pump action that opened Josh Bellamy up on the sidelines for an easy pitch and catch for six.
OH MY, @TGdadon1! 😱 #DABears #TBvsCHI
📺: FOX https://t.co/ztji5KcUPU
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018
His fifth was a shovel pass to Taylor Gabriel, so it’s a bit generous to refer to it as a touchdown pass, but it counts in the stats even if Gabriel did most all the work.
Two QBs in the backfield.
And it's a toss to @TGdadon1!@MTrubisky10's FIFTH TD pass of the first half! #TBvsCHI #DaBears
📺: FOX https://t.co/5DSAZ3Ev7n
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018
While that didn’t require too much effort or skill on Trubisky’s part, his dime to Gabriel earlier in the drive certainly did.
.@MTrubisky10 has FOUR TD passes so far.
It's still the first half. #TBvsCHI #DaBears
📺: FOX https://t.co/5ihsJynMZs
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018