Through nine games, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have proven that they have a playoff-caliber defense.

The Bucs faced a hostile environment Sunday night as they took on the Chicago Bears and their high-powered offense. It was an enormous test for Tampa's defense, which had played well all season despite the team's record.

Early on, Bears QB Caleb Williams and the rest of Chicago's offense were having their way with the Bucs' defense. 

Chicago easily drove down the field for a touchdown on both of its first two drives. Tampa's defense was getting embarrassed, especially CB Zyon McCollum, who was whiffing on tackles and getting abused in coverage. McCollum has been playing like an All-Pro, but you would have never known it by watching him in the first quarter against the Bears.

The third Chicago drive was more of the same. The Bears set themselves up with a first-and-goal from the 8-yard line, but a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on WR Zavion Thomas backed them up to the 21 after a two-yard run by RB D'Andre Swift.

That's when Bucs safety Tykee Smith made a potential game-saving play when he intercepted Williams and saved a third early touchdown.

From that point on, the defense overwhelmed Ben Johnson's lethal offense.

Tampa would notch four INTs for the second week in a row. Two came from McCollum, who rebounded in dramatic fashion. Linebacker Alex Anzalone got the other. It was his third in two weeks and fourth of the season, the third-most in the NFL.

The Bucs also forced a late fumble from Chicago WR Luther Burden III, and the short field allowed Tampa to score the game-tying TD and two-point conversion.

It wasn't enough. The Bears would kick a 38-yard field goal as time expired for the 27-24 victory, dropping the Bucs to 3-6 and third place in the NFC South after beginning the game in first due to tiebreakers.

The defense did its part, as it has so often this year, only to be victimized by an offense that failed to capitalize on its effort.

Other than RB Bucky Irving, nobody else on Tampa's offense got anything going, wasting the defense's stellar final three quarters.

With the division title well within reach, the Bucs, even at 3-6, have a clear path to the postseason.

Can the Buccaneers' defense carry the offense to the playoffs?

The offensive woes of the Bucs this season are plentiful.

QB Baker Mayfield has not played anywhere near the level he showed over his first three seasons with the club, which led to the team signing up to a huge three-year, $165 million contract extension before the season.

The Bucs have not been getting a return on that investment.

Tampa desperately misses Mike Evans, who left in free agency after a dozen Hall of Fame-worthy seasons with the Bucs. Even without Evans, Tampa's WRs still appeared to be a talented group, led by 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka and terrific veteran Chris Godwin Jr., who formed an elite duo with Evans for years.

Unfortunately, Tampa's receivers have underperformed significantly. After nine games, Egbuka (who missed two contests) leads the team with 31 receptions, only 278 receiving yards, and two TDs. Godwin has only 29 catches for 259 yards (and no TDs).

WR3 Jalen McMillan has once again fallen victim to injury, playing nine offensive snaps in the two games he has appeared in. He has not recorded a catch. Third-round rookie Ted Hurst flashed his talent in training camp, even earning comparisons to Evans. However, Hurst has only 11 receptions all year, and none over the last three games.

That is not good enough.

The offensive line was expected to be arguably the NFL's best. It has been anything but. 

While the line has done a good job opening up holes for RBs Irving and Kenny Gainwell, it has been a liability in pass protection. Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb while running for his life late in Week 3, causing him to miss the first three games of his four seasons with the team. Mayfield and backup Jalon Daniels have been sacked a combined 27 times, a number that would be even higher if not for their ability to escape pressure.

That is not good enough.

The defense has shown it can lead the team to victories over teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, and Atlanta Falcons, who have a combined record of 10-17.

Against the Bears, forcing five turnovers (a plus-3 differential) wasn't enough. That should never be the case, even on the road against a great team. 

Luckily for the Bucs, they play only two teams the rest of the season with a winning record, the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.

That gives the defense a great chance at carrying the offense to the playoffs.

Unfortunately, unless the offense improves, the Bucs' chances of winning a playoff game, even at home, are not good.

The trade deadline should give the Bucs several possible targets who can come in and boost the offense. With the Falcons already selling, Tampa has an opportunity to be aggressive and give itself a clear advantage in winning the division.

If the offense can add a playmaker, the Bucs' defense can also carry the team to a playoff victory.

However, if the offense continues to play at its current level, not even a Herculean effort from the defense could make the Bucs a true contender.