Chicago v Tampa Bay American Football

Welcome to Wembley, the home of Some action from previous matches

at Wembley, and this is the 5th year on the trot that the NFL have

held a regular-season game here. It's become such an established

part of the sporting calendar that both teams have been here before.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, their visit in 2009 was one to forget.

Their 35-7 defeat to the New England Patriots was part of a

trying first-season for rookie head coach Raheem Morris. Two years on,

and he is back with a bright young team ready to mix it with the best.

Compared to that, the Chicago Bears's visit is ancient history.

Back in 1986 legends like Walter Payton, Jim McMahon and William

Perry played the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason friendly under the twin

towers. But that side still cast a shadow over Lovie Smith's 2011

Chicago Bears. And it is an event where everyone is welcome. Fans of

all NFL teams are here this evening, not just those who support the

Bears all the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers game from two years ago

was probably the least memorable of games, and if we could get a repeat

of the charges and Saints shoot-out from 2008 we are in retreat. You

can see how much the Buccaneers have improved. Their most recent

win against the Super Bowl winners of two years ago and beat Division

rivals, New Orleans Saints, puts them top of NFL south. A crucial

game for the Bears as they tried to keep up with the defending lead

champions, the Green Bay Packers. We talked about the Saints and the

Charges, this has a lot riding on it. Almost pivotal for both teams

because they are chasing two good teams in their division even though

the Buccaneers are first now. And they both need to keep pace because

they know it will come down for wild-card play-off in the end, so

they are really chasing each other in that sense. The Buccaneers

should be at home, but their Chicago Bears shirts everywhere and

it feels like a home game for Chicago. All of those jerseys they

been saving since 1986, they have come out of the woodwork, but

outside the stadium this afternoon there were more Brian her lacquered

Jersey's than any other single players. -- Brian Urlacher. The key

is to get Ernest grant to run the ball so Josh Freeman can throw it

downfield, but the real key is defensively. Can they get to Jay

Cutler, the quarterback and stop the Bears from throwing deep, which

is they -- what they like to do and can they stop Matt Forte who is a

threat from the front and to receive. They need to get cover on

his back where he has spent a lot of time in the last years. Very

close to call us. Your commentators after noon in Chicago. 1pm in Tampa.

Just after 6pm in London as we get things started. Tough up the

kickoff is out of bounds and no chance of a return -- the kickoff

position for Jay Cutler and the Bears. They will start from their

own 40, as the referee said. Cutler has been courageous in the

last couple of weeks as his offensive line has shifted around,

but great plays throwing the ball, working behind the makeshift

defensive line and the Bears have struggle within the first six games

ball makes the tackle. When you talk about the Chicago Bears

offence, what is the offensive line capable of doing? There will be

more changes in the line-up this afternoon. The way to accomplish

that is to do what he did there, lean on Matt Forte and let him run

the ball. I think that is exactly what we will see early, trying to

establish the run and setting up Forte, and he leads there Chicago

Bears in receiving and rushing. So, third down in seven, and that is

coming in for the best. This is the Tampa Bay defence coming off a

great game against the New Orleans Saints. Three interceptions, a good

defensive line. They were really jumping with the timing passing

game of the New Orleans Saints, so if they can recognise the formation

and personnel, they might take some busting into midfield for first

down. He throws down a field that the passes to a high, intended for

Johnny Knox, so the Bears see their first possession go three-and-out.

Jay Cutler with the pressure moving around. What you would expect is

one of his receivers to break deep. Everybody working back, and Jake

colour extending their. I think he wanted Johnny Knox to get vertical

on the plate and he was working Buccaneers. -- Preston Parker. The

three-yard return. But Tampa Bay did not do anything with their

drive, so we joined the next Chicago possession on their own 19

yard line. Setting up an offensive series for Jay Cutler and the Bears.

He takes it out to the 24 yard line. When you get up next to Matt Forte

you do not realise how big he is until you are right next to him and

to watch him running, it's more that you see what he can do. He has

great feet and vision but the first time I got next to him it was

amazing how big he was and it's great to make that correlation that

he has such great feat. He jumped inside and turned a two or three

Yard last into a game. Forte has accounted for 46 % of the Chicago

Bears offence this season. Picking up a first down, finally forced out

of bounds by Jones at the 40 five- yard line, and Forte gains 22.

cannot reach enough about patience as a running back. Watch Matt Forte.

There is nothing at the beginning of the play. Defended well by the

Buccaneers and block well, but just having the patience and getting

people to commit out of their spot and getting to the edge. Patience

as a running back is one of those great instincts more people are

born with it than you can learn. Spencer did great to seal up the

outside line. First down, cut a's pass. Intended for Roy Williams,

but there is a flag. -- Cup Le's Automatic first down. This is a

match-up that Jay Cutler will be looking for. Any receiver on Barber,

a true run on one. Good skills getting out, eyes on the

quarterback. I think that the Bears really liked the match-up when they

catch true one on ones outside. Williams and barber again. Colour's

pass caught by Hester -- Cutler's pass. Hester keeps the lead.

continues to improve as a wide receiver. A lot of subtleties that

go with playing that position, understanding what your thing does

in the grand scheme of play. Being able to run and pick people laugh,

Devin Hester is starting to learn it. We know he has great breakaway

speed and great hands, but he is Forte, and he picks up another

first down. And he is inside the 10 and will take it in for a Chicago

We talked about the patient before, but now it is the vision. And the

ability to see people coming out of your peripheral and making the jump.

The play does not look all that great at the start. They get caught

up to the outside, but there is the patience, and now watch the vision.

Roy Williams getting the block. Tyler Clutts finishing off the last

defender. Second rushing touchdown of the season. As the extra point

comes in. Chicago Bears strike on their next possession, losing

their running back to injury and having to punt again. We rejoin the

next Chicago Bears drive that the 31 line. This is Forte, who has the

Chicago touchdown. The tackle comes remaining healthy running back on

the Buccaneers sideline. Second first down. Across the midfield,

Jones finally bringing him down and a gain of 14. They are really

working the edges of the Tampa Bay defence. All of the big plays have

been on the edge, Davies, a big physical tight end. Roy Williams

again coming down inside and getting a block. They are getting

on to the edge of the Tampa Bay defence very quickly. Forte with 79

yards, replaced at the back by one time Dallas Cowboy, Marion Barber.

Another ex Cowboy, Roy Williams, in motion. Cutler looking to throw and

he fires downfield. Dropped by butter player. This is the staple,

number 11. A two-man root, match protection, hard play, you push the

scene on the route and Roy has made a bunch of these catches and you

can see him push his eyes up to find Adam Heywood before the ball

his on the second game. -- Barber Jackson returns at 42 yards. I do

not know how he does this. Marion Barber, you have to make his catch.

It goes up an air, it is going to be difficult but you have to make

that catch. I have watched Jackson on film and was absolutely blown

away by how well he played last week in his first game back in over

a year. 4 Jay Cutler, the first interception he has thrown in the

Interception on back to back plays. He is looking at his first career

interception. The safety position is one that has been in flux for

the Bears for some time. Lovie Smith, without being asked, started

talking about Chris Conte and what a great career he has in front of

him. That is a great playwright there by a young guy. -- play right

there. They get it back two plays later. He has to get the ball

him come up here and forced him back. He gets a little help but

that was all him in the beginning. Here come the young guys on the

outside. He makes a great job of that title. At the end of the first

quarter it is 7-2 to the Bears. The Bears have been here before back in

1986. Earlier on, I caught up with a couple of members of that squad

The players we had, they were always great characters who played

great football. People can identify with that. This is a big game for

the Bears, given the stage in the season? Yare, they cannot afford to

go back -- yes they cannot afford to go back. It is nice to get when

in London -- to get a win. It's will be an uphill battle. Firstly

for their confidence level and secondly for their standing in the

division. You have the Green Bay Packers and Detroit. I do not see

anybody winning easily. What is your prediction? I think the Bears

will pull it out but it will be close. As I said before, 24-14. I

hope that they will kick the ball to Hester. If they can get it five

yards deep, Hester will bring it back.

mentioned the score a moment ago, the gentleman to my right chuckled.

You did not think that would be the score? I did not expect that. We

had an opportunity before the game to talk to some of the officials

who are working in the UK. It seems like the game is really starting to

take all over here. It really has grown over here. The quality of

questions from fans and their knowledge of the game, it is really

a signal that the growth is really taking hold. I think there is a

bright future for football here. The NFL owners approved a regular -

- resolution last year to continue playing games through UK until 2016,

potentially more than one game a year. It is not just that but the

expansion of the number of games. We think we can play multiple

regular stadium games and that will further our growth. We may have a

full franchise here one day. A some of the things that you had seen at

the start of the season that had been pressure? Detroit and Buffalo

came out. San Francisco were playing well. Also, the scoring, I

was taken by the amount of scoring. The standard of the game has been

extraordinary this year. He is inside the 45. Tampa games 28.

When you get everybody up tight on the line of scrimmage and you break

that one little seam, there is that space that Marion Barber is able to

Bears and we are not much of the For a quarterback, that if you

throw the ball up and I cannot get to it I can guarantee that the

other guy will not get it either. Hester is going back to his younger

days there, turning it into a corner. The Commissioner of the

National Football League is with us. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are here

for the second time. They played in London two years ago against New

England. It has been mentioned that they might become part of a regular

rotation. We're going to try to focus on a few teams to see if that

will accelerate our growth over here. The Buccaneers have a

tremendous interest. Deglaze a family, as you know, warns

Manchester United here. It is an opportunity we are looking forward

to. -- the Glazer family owns This is one of the things that Jay

Cutler has asked for. He wants the ball to come out quicker from the

offence. He just beats the Jam, gets on top right away. Jay Cutler,

a good spot with the ball. 25 yards from Cutler to Williams. His first

touchdown of the season, first touched down as a member of their

Chicago Bears. The Buccaneers managed to score a

field goal as time ran out in the quarter. Have time, 14-5. You

called it, Mike. It would be good if they could keep their running

game going. I think it was the only time in the half when they gave up

the safety. The defence is playing well, the running game is going

well. It is opening up things for Jay Cutler. They have done a good

job of protecting him. Craig really has to step up. They do not really

have any options be on them so they have to be careful. How do Tampa

deal with them in the second half. The Bears are going to keep

bringing pressure. They have to stop the Bears. The way to do that

is probably to bring extra people up and taking risks. Tampa have to

take some risks on both sides of the ball. It is not the game they

want to play but that there's a sort of forcing them into the

position where that is what they're going to have to do. Speaking of

Josh Freeman, we can now go to the quarterback who won the Super Bowl

for the Buccaneers, Brad Johnson. He also has connections here in

London. When you played for the Monarchs,

compare and contrast football then with football now. They won the

championship in 1991. They played at Wembley Stadium to a sold-out

crowd. The fans we do debt -- we get excited when there was a punt

and a kick. Over the last four for five years, there have been regular

games and interest is growing. The fan support has been unbelievable

over here from 1995 until now. fans of a certain age are behind

the Bears because of the team in the mid-80s. Tell me about what the

Buccaneers mean to you. They are world champions and that is how I

will always remember them. The glazers have done a great job in

terms of giving the team a chance to win. -- Glazers. Tamponade

expend -- expanded their game. The Bears have the ball on their

own 45. Johnny Knox is in Buccaneers territory. Here is

another thing that a good running game helps you do - it loosens up

your coverage and allows you to get down field. Johnny knocks covered

from the outside, works into that area. Look at the area that Jay

Cutler fed that ball into. Three wide receivers. He gets down to the

31. One of those things that you forget about during the Games,

Jackson going out of the line-up, Lench coming in. He was such a

force against New Orleans last week. Let us see what might 40 has done.

out of I'll were. Jay Cutler will try and step up and avoid the rush

by him, but the Adrian Lee born beats Webb back to the inside.

had held down there backside, but he knew he would not have a lot of

room out there. Tyler Clutts knew he could not keep the inside up,

and that is what happened. Cutler fires, and the catch is made by the

Roy Williams for a Chicago Bears first down. This is a another for

nice throw by Jay Cutler. Watched the line this is on. He does not

have his feet even set, it is on a road to Roy Williams. They lost

faster in the first half, end in the last play two weeks ago in San

Francisco, Marion Barber was pass intended for the tight end,

Davies. He got lucky, because Corey Lynch got under that. If you are

going to go Ian on that route, you have to be the man inside. You

can't allow him to come underneath you. Let's see what happens, he

lets Corey Lynch get in front of him. And the Bears are lucky that

Corey Lynch stumbled on that ball. Second and 10, too tight ends in

the game for Chicago. Hester comes in. Matt Forte takes it all away

down to the 12 yard line for a gain defensive line and when you have

Devin Hester coming around? A whole defensive line was frozen and all

of a sudden they see Devin Hester coming across. They are playing him

and widening out and forget about the running up the middle. If I see

Devin Hester coming across my face, I will take the angle of pursuit.

Here is Marion Barber. First down. And he takes it in for a Bears

putting in at running back, they are controlling the game. A good

job by Marion Barber, and he has Jones coming inside it and sees the

play moved to his right and steps to the right. He loses his

responsibility, and Marion Barber comes through the spot. So, a 21-5

lead 4 Chicago and things got worse when Josh Freeman was intercepted

by Briggs, who was just kept out of the end zone. However, a penalty

put the Bears back and they failed to add to their advantage. As the

third quarter wound down, Chicago had another chance to add to the

lead, but the kicker pushed this field goal attempt wide of the mark.

At the top of the 4th quarter, Josh Freeman through another

interception. This time to Brian Urlacher. He seemed to fumble the

Urlacher. He seemed to fumble the ball back to Tampa Bay, but

following a Chicago challenge, the call was overturned and the Bears

retained possession. That is where we rejoin the action. There is

first and 10 on their own 32. work hard to get your team down the

field, and if Brian Urlacher doesn't intercept, then Kellen

Winslow might. That pass was intended for Johnny Knox with

Marion Barber on the cover. Cutler got stepped on as he came

out from centre and that impacted going to the receiver. Barber is

playing different positions, quarterback, safety, line back, all

over the field. Barber straight matching up with Johnny Knox. And

his passes intercepted. Corey Lynch with that. The Bears get it right,

Corey Lynch with his first interception of the season and the

third of his career. Here is the first bad decision by Jay Cutler

this afternoon. Pressure coming in from the right side and he floats

this one into the middle of the field. Matt Forte gets up too far

inside and again it is Michael Bennett applying the pressure. You

cannot make that throw. You'll just have to take the step. You have to

make sure you don't give it back to the Buccaneers after a call goes

your way. Look at the coverage behind. Hays is all over the

receiver. A reprieve of sorts for Josh Freeman. Caught by Williams.

He takes it down inside the 15 yard Graham and LeGarrette Blount

because you miss the ball. You coach it, you talk about it, but

she cannot make that decision. you think he has another pencil?

Second down and three. The passes broken up. Terrific defensive play

by cattlemen who reached in in front of Roy Williams. If I was

Tampa Bay, I would start work in the outside of the defence in the

passing game. You just got picked off by Brian Urlacher in the middle

of the field and you have Harris moving up on that play towards the

middle of the field. Still working the corner root. Could play coming

up. Now he falls, and it is a first down to the Bears two-yard line by

Mike Williams. Look how hard he is working, and that is a long time

before Josh Freeman is able to throw the ball. You can give that

down as a completion to the Tampa Josh Freeman Heathrow's, and

touched down! Kellen Winslow! not a big advocate of going for two

points, but the way the offence has played, I don't not know if they

will get many chances and if I can make this a won possession game, I

will take my best shot at it. are looking for Kellen Winslow. It

is a tough duty to match up there. Only a second catch for Kellen

Winslow, trailing by 10 to try and get this down to weigh one score

the coverage. The Bears with a ten- point advantage and they fell to

move their ball on the next possession and we joined the

Buccaneers first and 10 on the Bears 48 yard line. You wonder now

who will be fresher in the 4th quarter. We have talked about the

travel schedule with the Chicago Bears coming over late, and they

have more gas here in the 4th quarter. Spur lock takes a hand off

from Freeman. Firing down fears, intended for Williams, and it is

broken up by Chris Conte. He played some quarterback in college. He

took that hand-off from Freeman, so some trickery. I might not have

thrown the ball. The safety did not fall for this at all. Maybe it for

a match-up, when you run of play and you have someone taking the

decision to throw the ball downfield, normally you tell them,

unless it is wide open, take it and run. It looks like they felt they

Winslow, first down for the Bucs. You cannot let Josh Freeman have

that much time. Winslow will find a soft spot. He brings it inside and

it just sits in a soft spot. Another one for the offensive line.

Derek Hardman is playing left guard. Nine minutes remaining, the 4th

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 51 seconds

quarter. The Bears lead by 10. A career start. Amongst the 17 wins,

eight comeback wins. He has shown great poise at a young point in his

career. This situation will be calling for another one today. A

great missed opportunity with a play would make this a won

possession game, but the Buccaneers have the ball back here. Second

down and seven. Did he catch that? He did not. Dez Briscoe was the

intended receiver. Third down and seven. That is the difference right

here. Josh Freeman has to throw it down the backside. It was close,

but the ball hits the ground. You incomplete pass as the ball hit the

ground. Third down and seven from has made some terrific catches

today, and it extends across the yellow line, which is an official,

is the game again, getting in on the inside, so Josh Freeman had

then bearing down, and he makes the throw, but Dez Briscoe with a great

effort at the end to make sure they got a first down. Five

interceptions for Brisco today. I have been waiting for them to

attack during this part. That is straight into the centre, and Dez

Briscoe released into the top of the screen and now the brakes to

the offside and sells the safety to the middle of the field. We have

had a couple of throws in the second half and you have to give

the offensive line credit. Josh Freeman held on to the ball for a

while. Josh Freeman with his second touchdown pass here in the 4th

quarter. The extra point is good. Seven minutes remaining, and it is

a three-point gain in London. And now the Bears with an interception.

His forte, first down to the 30 five-yard line. -- here his forte.

I am so impressed with his stop- start and change of direction and

patience. They need to lean on him in this series. They have to get

the momentum back. Tampa Bay have stolen it in the 4th quarter.

Forte with 143 yards on the ground, and you record for an NFL game in

taken down by Barber. -- Hester. know how the elusive Hester is in

the open field. -- how elusive. don'ts for the Bears. -- downs.

Credit that defensive line, they were able to get the pressure on

Jay Cutler. Almost six minutes downfield. -- on second. You do not

get two chances to make a catch in the NFL. He has Buccaneer players

around him. I think the keeper has an interception here on a

deflection. At least he is able to challenge him. The fourth catch for

Williams, he has a touchdown. Time- penalty. He is brought down at the

16th -- the 36 yard line. pressure is going to come from the

top. With Michael Bennett they have the outside routes. They need to

get Matt Forte on the outside. Forte, who led the lead for the

call here if you are Tampa Bay. You cannot let them score a touchdown.

the back field. Cutler's farce, broken up, intended for Forte. --

the back field, Williams to the right, Sanders to the left. Cutler

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 51 seconds

is taken down by Barber. That is you have just really hurt your team.

He gets the sack on Jay Cutler and then makes a player like that.

Forte is slowed down by Barber. We have three-and a-half minutes

remaining in the fourth quarter. Now you have the ear and a half

minutes. The offence have less time to go out there, march down the

field and score. They must hold the plays -- had played a been these

last three a four place like they had at the start of the game they

would not be in this position. Hayes finds his way through the

whole maze of offensive and defensive line to stop it inside

We hit the two-minute warning. Tampa Bay hauled the Bears. When we

come back, the Bears will attempt a field goal. The Bears ran six plays

after knocking it into the end zone. The Bears' lead is now six. Just

under two minutes remaining. They are starting on the 28 yard line.

the defence do is to generate pressure to stop it is the twists

up front, Melton coming from the defence of the attacking position.

He is able to get pressure on Josh Freeman. It is so hard when you

don't play next to the guide and don't have your timing down. --

next to the guy. We haven't mentioned it in a while but you

have some different guise in at Tampa Bay team. Ted Larsson

switches into centre. We have hard men playing left Gah. They have

done a nice job in the fourth quarter to give Josh Freeman the

time. It is Mike William and the Bears at the 39 yard line. One

minute remaining in the fourth quarter here at Wembley in London.

From the Chicago 39. Freeman is looking for Williams out of bounds.

Chicago should maybe think about bringing in an extra guy. We have

had a lot of injuries in the course of this game that had impacted both

teams here. I totally agree. They should put a little pressure on.

Three men under pressure, he spins away. Now Heathrow's. Parker was

out of bounds. That is ruled incomplete. 37 seconds remaining.

Freeman getting back up of the turf. Like a lot of quarterbacks, it

takes a lot of time for him to be able to field this. Look at that

from Freeman - that is great, natural feel. Freeman on third and

10. He is intercepted by D Jay Moore. That pits the cherry on the

kick for a Chicago victory in It was a long flight. The time

difference was a bit of an adjustment early on. Once we got

settled and had a full night's sleep we felt much better. There

were a lot of Bears fans. We heard them from the start to the finish.

We got a great response from our fans over here. I was on board all,

talking for our team to come here. We should be one of the teams that

is going over, showing our brand of football internationally. You're

never excited about flying for eight hours. But I am proud of the

group. It was a lot of fun, the crowd was involved, they were

interactive. We got off to a great start. Did you feel the crowds were

more on your side? I think so. Sometimes they got pretty loud for

us when their offence was on the field. Even though there was a lot

of Tampa Bay stuff in the crowd, I feel like weekend of my guitar

crowd. 24-18 in favour of the Bears. Was

that closer for the Bears than it should have been? I think so. The

Bears dominated for the first three-quarters. They made crucial

mistakes at the wrong times. They kept the Buccaneers in the game,

essentially. All credit to the Buccaneers because they put the

pressure Roger cuddle bee offence. The Bears defence seemed to be

tiring in the fourth quarter. There were some prospect -- some

spectacular plays. As we said at half-time, Matt Forte in the thick

of things, even in the second half. Yes. That was how they had to work

their offence. Up until the end it seemed like every time they went to

a wide receiver set, Tampa knew what was coming. Finally, in the

fourth quarter, when they thought, now we're going to start passing,

it was the Auld Jay Cutler. He nearly handed the game back to them

at one point. That stupid penalty by the Buccaneers let them run out

the clock enough to make the Buccaneers' life difficult. What do

you think this does for the rest of the season for the Bears and the

Buccaneers? Tampa have to work on their offence. If they cannot score

points they're going to be in trouble. For the Bears this is a

great state -- step forward. They are going to be in the hunt for the

wildcard, if not for the division championship. There is a long way

to go. They have Green Bay Packers and Detroit to play. They have a

chance to get back in the divisional race. They do very much.

The next NFL you will see here run the BBC will be the Super Bowl on

Sunday 5th February next year. It will be live on BBC One. For the