Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 X-factor players for Week 5 vs. Bears

4. Donovan Smith, left tackle

Donovan Smith struggled against the New Orleans Saints pass rushers when the team faced them in the first week and now he has perhaps the most potent tandem of rushers this week against the Bears.

No matter if Smith will be faced off against Khalil Mack or Robert Quinn, the accomplishments and abilities speak for themselves. It will be up to Smith to help protect Tom Brady on a night when his pass-catching weapons will be depleted.

Smith has been called for five penalties and has given up two sacks thus far in 2020. He will need to be on top of his game against Quinn and Mack or an already difficult situation for the offense will become much worse. Brady is a much different quarterback when he doesn’t have time to throw and the Buccaneers do not need Smith being the weak link.

3. Carlton Davis, cornerback

Carlton Davis is enjoying a tremendous start to his third career NFL season. Davis has been everything the Buccaneers have asked from him and he usually gets the opposing team’s best receiver. This week he will most likely see plenty of Allen Robinson during the game. Robinson is the only consistent threat for the Bears offense and he leads the team in targets with 41.

Davis may not completely shut down Robinson, but if he can slow him down and force Nick Foles to consider other options, it should really help the offense out. Currently, Davis is giving up a 56.3 completion percentage when targeted, and if this continues, it could mean bad things for the Bears on Thursday night.

Despite his athleticism, Robinson isn’t as shifty as Keenan Allen was for Davis on Sunday, and he most likely will not be moved around the formation as much as Allen was either. Davis should be able to keep Robinson under wraps which will keep the Chicago passing game at bay.