last week, but he threw for 321 yards with a 116.1 passer rating.

Falcons tight end Austin Hooper had 128 receiving yards on just 2 receptions, including an 88-yard TD, and the Bucs have an exceptional tight end duo in Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard.

Brate, who hails from Naperville Central, caught 57 passes for 660 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. That included a 10-yard TD grab against the Bears last year in Tampa during the Bucs’ 36-10 blowout victory. To complement him, the Bucs used their first-round draft pick on Alabama’s Howard, a 6-foot-6 and 251-pound TE who runs a 4.5 40-yard dash.

Bears coach John Fox says Brate presents a huge threat when the Bucs get close to the end zone.

“He’s a long body, and they feature him in the red area,” Fox said. “I don’t know if his top-end speed is quite what Howard’s is, but he plays fast, and he’s a pretty good ball-getter when that ball goes up.”

Fox also likes what he’s seen from rookie safety Eddie Jackson, the Bears’ only rookie starter. Fox believes Jackson can compete with the Bucs.

“I’ve seen a lot from him that I’ve liked,” Fox said of the fourth-round pick from Alabama. “I don’t know how much he got tested last week, (but) he functioned really well, and he’s a good communicator. He does well in all facets.

“Tampa Bay does the same thing (as the Falcons), and DeSean Jackson is another deep threat with Evans. Their tight end crew is as good as anyone in the league, and Winston can hoist it. I’m sure (Jackson) will get tested, but overall I’ve been very pleased with his performance.”

• Follow Bob’s Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.