It’s Joe’s game outlook

Buccaneers (2-8) at Bears (4-6)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

TV: WTVT-TV Channel 13

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (WDAE-AM 620 and WFUS-FM 103.5 in Tampa-St.Petersburg region)

Weather: Per Weather.com, the forecast is better than expected. Kickoff temperature should be 51 degrees with roughly a 25 percent chance of rain through the game. However, rain has fallen this morning in Chicago.

Odds: Per FootballLocks.com, Bears -5 1/2

Outlook: Lavonte David (hamstring) officially is a game-time decision. But Joe doubts he’ll play, and there’s really no reason to risk further injury to a key piece of the future. Let him rest. But if David is out, then that would be a huge blow to Tampa Bay’s chances — for the rush and the pass defense. Tight ends have carved up the Bucs this season, and Martellus Bennett is among the best in the league. Joe’s looking to see if the Bucs improve covering a tight end. As for slowing down beastly Bears wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall, those guys will make their share of plays. It’s just a question of how badly they hurt.

Offensively, the Bucs will go where Josh McCown takes them. This is a garbage — literally garbage — Bears defense, and the Bucs have plenty of healthy weapons, including McCown’s legs. There’s no reason not to put up points today.

Special teams don’t come up too often, but Joe thinks it will be a factor. Bucs’ new return man Marcus Thigpen fumbled last week and doesn’t look like the answer for Tampa Bay at that position. It won’t get easier in the Windy City. But Bears special teams have troubled Chicago most of the season. There likely will be big plays to be had.

The buzz in Chicago is about LovieBowl, aka Lovie Smith’s return to play the team that fired him. Joe has no doubt Lovie wants this game in the worst way. Bucs players know it in their hearts. It would be great to see some real physicality return to the team while they try to win a special one for their head coach.

No, Joe’s not going to mention the Bucs’ playoff chase. That’s silly talk at 2-8.