Coming off a short week, the Chicago Bears will have to decide which backup quarterback they want to start against the New York Jets.
Whoever it is, Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum, they will have a tough act to follow. And a tough defense to play against.
The Jets are 1-2, but are much more competitive than they were a season ago. Their two losses have been by a combined 10 points.
On the other side, the Bears need to prove their victories against the Panthers and Eagles weren’t flukes and the outlier
on the young season was the Vikings game in the rain.
Taking care of a team still on its rebuild will go a long way in showing the Bears are indeed not going to regress this year.
Let’s meet the Jets.
New York Jets
SB Nation site: Gang Green Nation
Record: 1-2, second in AFC East
Last week: 31-24 loss to the Detroit Lions
Game day, time, TV: Sunday, noon CT, FOX
Spread: Chicago -3.5
Bears all-time record against: 9-4
Historical meetings: The highest-scoring meeting between these teams was back in 2010, when the teams met the day after Christmas in week 16.
The 10-4 Jets came to Chicago to face the 10-4 Bears.
A 10-0 Chicago lead evaporated in the second quarter as Shonn Greene ran for a 3-yard touchdown, Dwight Lowery picked off Jay Cutler and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown and LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for a 3-yard score.
But the Bears answered back as Cutler scrambled for a 2-yard score himself.
In the third quarter, Cutler hit Johnny Knox for a 40-yard score. It was the first of three third-quarter TDs. Cutler also connected with Devin Hester for a 25-yard TD and Knox again for a 26-yard score.
In the meantime, Mark Sanchez found Santonio Holmes for a 23-yard score, but it wasn’t enough.
The Bears won 38-34.
Last meeting: Week 12 of 2022. Who could forget the matchup of Mike White against Trevor Siemian?
White carved up Matt Eberflus’s defense for 315 passing yards and three TDs. Garrett Wilson scored twice and Elijah Moore scored once.
Byron Pringle scored Chicago’s only touchdown as they got smoked 31-10 by the Jets.
Injury report: The Jets had nine players on their injury report Wednesday.
Limited participation
- EDGE Kindgley Enagbare
- S Minkah Fitzpatrick
- TE Jeremy Ruckert
- TE Kenyon Sadiq
Did not participate
- RB Breece Hall
- LB Francisco Mauigoa
- WR Adonai Mitchell
- OL Dylan Parham
- TE Mason Taylor
Offense: The Jets come to Chicago ranked 17th in points and 13th in yards.
Their passing offense ranks 11th and their rushing offense ranks 26th.
Geno Smith (75.5 pct cmp/783 yds./4 TD/0 INT) has recaptured the strong play he showed in Seattle a few years ago.
He also has a bit more to work with than he did last year in Las Vegas. With Garrett Wilson (21 rec./243 yds./2 TD), rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq (12/143/1) and Adonai Mitchell (9/123/0), they’re able to move the ball and score.
Breece Hall (10 rec./102/0 and 51 car./163 yds./1 TD) plays a big role for their offense as a rusher and checkdown. If he can’t go, Braelon Allen (19 att./61/1) will fill in for him.
Defense: The Jets defense comes in ranked 12th in points allowed and second in yards allowed.
Their passing defense ranks third and their rushing defense ranks seventh.
No. 2 overall draft pick David Bailey (2 sk/12 tkls/3 TFL/1 FF/3 QB hits) is playing up to his draft position. Kingsley Enagbare (2 sk/2 TFL/2 QB hits/1 FF), Demario Davis (22 tkl/1 sk/2 TFL/1 QB hit) and Jamien Sherwood (18 tkl/1 PD/2 TFL) are other statistical leaders on the defense.
In the secondary, Azareye’h Thomas (13 tkl/2 PD/2 TFL), Andre Cisco (16 tkl/2 TFL/1 PD) and Dane Belton (16 tkl/1 PD) are patrolling.
Key matchups: The Jets can be run on. They’re allowing 4.2 yards per attempt, which ranks 18th. Their offense ranks third in average offensive drive length.
Winning the time of possession and getting them off the field are big keys here. Their passing defense ranks high early in the season, so with a backup QB playing, the Bears will have to pick their spots. And establish the run early.
On defense, slowing down the Jets’ running game will be important. If they can get to Geno Smith, he will make some bad throws and turn it over. But if he’s in rhythm, he’s still a good quarterback. Containing Garrett Wilson and Kenyon Sadiq will be big, too.
Key stats
- The Jets have yet to have a defensive interception this year.
- The Jets defense is allowing 4.8 yards per play, which is tied for 29th with the Patriots, 49ers and VIkings.
- New York blitzes 33.6 percent of the time, 25th in the league. The Bears rank second in blitz percentage after Minnesota.
- Opposing QBs have a 98.6 rating against the Jets, which ranks 23rd.
- New York’s third down defense ranks fifth, allowing just 32.3 percent of opponents’ third downs to be converted.
A question to encourage discussion? What will it take for the Bears to get a win this week?
