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TAMPA, Fla. -- The Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers insist they arent as bad as their records suggest.The sputtering teams begin the second half of their schedules against each other Sunday, clinging to hope they can eliminate the inconsistency -- and at times, downright poor play -- thats prevented them from being more successful.Chicago (2-6), coming off a bye that gave it extra time to savor a 10-point victory over NFC North leader Minnesota, has already gotten a taste of what a healthy and on-target Jay Cutler back on the field can mean.The Bucs (3-5), whove lost two straight while struggling to run the ball, are clamoring for an opportunity to see whether a mended Doug Martin can change the course of their season.Obviously, it helps to have confidence, and its hard to gain confidence without something good happening, Chicago coach John Fox said. Were in a performance-based business. ... You work very hard in preparation to get that good feeling in the locker room. ... A `W after a game does give you a boost of confidence.Martin, the NFLs second-leading rusher a year ago, has been sidelined since Week 2 with a hamstring injury. He returned to practice this week and is optimistic hell be ready to play against the Bears.With or without Martin, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who rushed for 1,402 yards last season, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said he has to find a way to get more out of his team.Weve got to coach them better, No. 1. Thats what a coachs job is, thats what my job is, to try to get your team to achieve up to the talent level that they have, Koetter said.Our record is what our record is; we have to own that. ... But I think we can play to a higher level across the board. That starts with me, first and foremost, the coach added. I have to figure out how to reach these guys, how to motivate them, how to get them on the same page, get them to play together, to play up to the talent level that I think we have. That all starts with me.Some things to know about the Bears and Bucs, one-time NFC Central rivals who are playing for the 57th time:PROTECTING THE FOOTBALL: Bucs QB Jameis Winston has made a concerted effort to minimize turnovers following a 1/3 start. The second-year pro, on pace to throw for more than 4,000 yards again, has eight touchdown passes vs. one interception and a lost fumble in the past three games. Tampa Bay is 1-2 over that stretch, primarily because of problems on defense, where it yielded 1,087 yards, including 857 passing, in losses to Oakland and Atlanta the past two weeks.GETTING HEALTHY: The Bears are getting healthier after being banged-up all year.Cutler (thumb sprain) returned after missing five starts to lead a victory over the Vikings on Oct. 31. Linebacker Pernell McPhee (offseason knee surgery) has played the past two games after starting the season on the physically unable to perform list.Coming off a bye, the Bears may be closer to getting a few more key players back, including nose tackle Eddie Goldman, guards Kyle Long and Josh Sitton, and cornerback Bryce Callahan.Goldman is trying to work his way back from a high ankle sprained suffered in a loss to Philadelphia on Sept. 19.If hes doing well in practice and he feels good about it, then we can take a shot with him, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. If hes so-so in practice and still hobbling a little bit, then maybe not.ROOKIES ON RISE: There werent many positives for the Bears in the first half of the season. But here are two: rookies Jordan Howard and Leonard Floyd. Howard, a fifth-round draft pick, ranks second among rookies with 505 yards rushing. He ran for 153 against Minnesota, giving him three 100-yard games. Floyd, an outside linebacker drafted with the No. 9 overall pick, has three sacks in the past two games.NEXT MAN UP: With Martin sidelined since Week 2, and backups Charles Sims, Jacquizz Rodgers and Antone Smith going down with injuries, too, the Bucs have used four starting running backs. It has been difficult for Martin to watch.Real frustrating, the fifth-year pro said. Youve seen guys step up. ... and you see guys go down. Its hard to see. You want to get in.SOMETHINGS GOT GIVE: The Bucs are 0-4 at home this season. The Bears are 0-4 on the road.---AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman in Chicago contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLTony Pollard Youth Jersey . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Demarcus Lawrence Womens Jersey . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. http://www.shoptheofficialcowboys.com/Elite-Trysten-Hill-Cowboys-Jersey/ . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. Larry Allen Cowboys Jersey . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Bill Bates Youth Jersey . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend.RENTON, Wash. -- The Seahawks?have?signed free-agent running back C.J. Spiller to a one-year deal.To make room on the roster Wednesday, the Seahawks waived running back Terrence Magee.?Spiller, 29, appeared in 13 games with the New Orleans Saints last season. He was inactive in Week 1 of this season and then released. Spiller spent the first five years of his career with the Buffalo Bills.The Seahawks have suffered multiple injuries at running back this season. Thomas Rawls (fibula) is expected to be out several weeks. Third-down backk C.ddddddddddddJ. Prosise is dealing with a hand injury and wont be fully healed for three more weeks, coach Pete?Carroll said.Spiller has averaged 4.9 yards on 704 attempts in his career. He also has 192 catches for 1,434 yards.Last year, Spiller carried 36 times for 112 yards (3.1 YPC). He caught 34 balls for 239 yards.Spiller likely compete immediately for playing time as the Seahawks third-down back. ' ' '