The Chicago Bears got back on track with a big win on Monday Night Football over the Philadelphia Eagles. Now they enter the last of a three-game home stand against the New York Jets. Don’t be fooled by the 1-2 record. This team is much more formidable than the one that ended 2025. The Bears aren’t likely to take any opponent for granted. The Jets have the #2 overall defense and the 11th-ranked passing attack. They are more than capable of surprising you if you’re not prepared.
Thankfully, this team is well-coached. Don’t expect any letup from Monday night. The Bears will bring their usual intensity. Will it be enough? Let’s take a look at the matchup.
New York Jets at Chicago Bears backstory:
Two former friends and colleagues prepare to do battle. Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn had opposing experiences last year. Johnson won the division and beat his most hated rival in the playoffs. Glenn saw his team fall apart due to a flawed roster and poor quarterback play. Now the two former Detroit Lions coordinators stand in each other’s way in what is a crucial game for both. A loss would push the Jets to an almost insurmountable 1-3. A win for the Bears would put them at 3-1 and in contention for the top seed in the NFC a month into the season.
Injuries:
RB Breece Hall (quad)
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New York signed Hall to a lucrative contract extension this offseason, envisioning him as a focal point of their offense. The year didn’t start off overly fast, but Hall was still productive. Then an awkward tackle in the loss to Detroit last week saw the running back sprawled on the turf, holding his thigh. A quad injury means it’s virtually a guarantee he won’t play in this game, leaving an already iffy rushing attack in even worse shape.
LT Braxton Jones (knee)
Left tackle has been a pain for the Chicago Bears going back to last year. Jones returned this offseason in hopes of reestablishing his value while the team awaited Ozzy Trapilo’s return. Sadly, his injury issues haven’t let up. Jones left the win over Philadelphia with a knee injury. He’s been declared week-to-week, meaning it likely falls to Theo Benedet to man the position until Trapilo is ready. Not ideal against a pretty good Jets pass rush.
Key matchups:
WR Garrett Wilson vs. CB Malik Muhammad
As expected, the Jets have made Wilson their primary target in the passing game. He leads all receivers with 243 yards. As injuries mount in the Bears’ secondary, it forces them to move the rookie Muhammad to the outside after spending the first two weeks at nickel. They may have to keep him there with Tyrique Stevenson still dealing with a hamstring problem. That is a matchup New York is sure to test with Wilson.
EDGE David Bailey vs. RT Darnell Wright
The Jets took Bailey in the top 5 of the 2026 draft for obvious reasons. He was one of the best pass rushers in college football. That has carried over into his rookie year so far, as he leads the team with 10 pressures and 2 sacks. Well, he’s about to get a massive test against Wright, who is playing the best football of his career. He’s allowed just 3 pressures all season and none on 1-on-1 blocks.
X-factors:
TE Kenyon Sadiq
New York took a big gamble when they grabbed Sadiq with their second 1st round pick this past April. Many were skeptical of his readiness for the NFL. The Jets saw an athletically gifted player with all the tools to become a mismatch nightmare at his position. Seeing him torch Detroit last week for over 100 yards was the first indication that they might’ve known what they were doing.
EDGE Montez Sweat
He might not have the star power of other names across the league, but Sweat remains a productive pass rusher for the Chicago Bears. He’s off to another good start, amassing 9 pressures and 2 sacks in his first three games. He has a big opportunity to add to that number. Jets left tackle Olu Fashanu has struggled so far this season, allowing 10 pressures and 4 sacks on quarterback Geno Smith.
Prediction: Bears win 28-21
Detroit already showed the blueprint to taking down the Jets last week. Stick with the run, throw to the backs, and maintain a quick passing game to defuse their pass rush. The Bears are more than equipped to duplicate that strategy, regardless of who the quarterback is. Geno Smith was sacked 5 times last week but still cracked 300 yards and 3 TDs. That means the Bears need a good game from their secondary.
