The Chicago Bears and New York Jets have met 13 times, with Chicago holding a 9-4 advantage in the all-time series. New York won the most recent meeting in 2022, and that ended what had been a five-game losing streak against the Bears.
Now the Jets are preparing to face their second NFC North opponent in as many weeks. This time, they are making the trip to Soldier Field for another important test, one that may be their most difficult so far. Here are five storylines worth watching when these teams meet.
Will familiarity play a role in the Aaron Glenn vs. Ben Johnson duel?
Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson know each other well after working together on Dan Campbell's Detroit Lions staff. They now find themselves as head coaches of their own teams, with Glenn calling the defensive plays for New York and Johnson directing
the Chicago offense.
That familiarity adds another layer to an already intriguing matchup. Glenn knows the offensive mind he'll be facing, while Johnson has plenty of firsthand knowledge about the defensive philosophy his former colleague wants to implement. The question is whether that history gives either coach an advantage once the game begins.
New York's third road game in its first four weeks
The Jets won't play another home game until they host the Cleveland Brownsin Week 5, making this their third road contest in the first four weeks of the season. New York's fans travel well, but taking over Soldier Field is a different challenge entirely.
This should be the Jets' toughest road environment yet. This comes after also facing a difficult atmosphere in Detroit against the Lions last Sunday. The ability to handle the noise, communicate cleanly, and avoid the kinds of pre-snap mistakes that can quickly derail a road offense will be important from the opening series.
Can Geno Smith and Garrett Wilson keep it up?
Geno Smith appears to be growing more comfortable in Frank Reich's offense with each passing week, and his performance against the Lions was good enough to win plenty of games against other opponents. Unfortunately, the Jets didn't score enough to turn that production into a victory.
One encouraging development has been the connection between Smith and Garrett Wilson. The two have connected for touchdown passes in each of the past two games, and Wilson continues to look like the central figure in the passing attack. If that connection stays hot, it gives New York a chance to make Chicago defend every inch of the field.
Can the Jets churn out rushing yards without Breece Hall?
The Jets' rushing attack faces an important test if Hall is unavailable. Chicago ranks 21st against the run through three weeks, allowing 117 yards per game, and Philadelphia found success running the football early in its most recent matchup with the Bears.
New York needs to find enough production from Braelon Allen and the rest of its backfield to keep the offense balanced. Without Hall, the burden becomes even greater on the offensive line to create running lanes and on Reich to keep Chicago from anticipating obvious passing situations.
Can Aaron Glenn's defense finally create a game-changing takeaway?
The Jets have played improved defense through the first three weeks, but one thing remains missing: an interception. New York has yet to pick off a pass during Glenn's tenure, even though the defense has created pressure and forced fumbles.
That drought cannot continue forever, and the Bears provide another opportunity to change it. Whether the Jets generate an interception, recover another loose football, or simply turn pressure into a critical fourth-quarter mistake, a timely takeaway could be the difference between another competitive loss and a road victory.
After three weeks, the Jets have shown they can stay in games against quality opponents. The next step is finding a way to make the one or two plays that turn those competitive efforts into wins, and Soldier Field offers another opportunity to do exactly that.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: 5 things to watch in Jets vs. Bears game
