Three takeaways from the Bears’ game Thursday night against the Buccaneers:
Red zone
The Bears signed tight end Jimmy Graham hoping he’d be the big-body red-zone target they lacked last season. When Graham caught a 12-yard touchdown Thursday night, it marked the third game this season in which he’d scored. Last year, Bears tight ends had only two touchdown catches — one each by Ben Braunecker and Jesper Horsted.
First-and-forever
The Buccaneers had an impressive stretch of penalties in the third quarter. Holding on tackle Tristan Wirfs made it first-and-20, then an offensive pass interference penalty on Mike Evans moved the sticks back to first-and-30. Offsetting penalties between the Bears and Bucs made it first-and-30 a second time, and a Ryan Jensen unnecessary roughness flag made it second-and-34. The Bucs eventually punted on fourth-and-27, but not until the Bears declined a holding penalty on third down.
OL change
Before Thursday’s game, the Bears’ five-man offensive line had played together on all but one play this season — a single snap against the Lions in which left guard James Daniels left the field. That changed halfway through the third quarter, when Daniels left the game with a pec injury and was replaced by Alex Bars.
