The 2-1 Bears Return Home After A Statement Win Over Philadelphia, While The 1-2 Jets Look To Rebound Behind Geno Smith And A Defense That Has Kept Them Competitive.
The New York Jets and Chicago Bears meet Sunday, October 4, in a Week 4 matchup at Soldier Field, with both teams looking to strengthen their position early in the 2026 NFL season. The Jets enter at 1-2 after opening the season with a 23-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans before falling to the Green Bay Packers, 20-17, and the Detroit Lions, 31-24. Chicago enters at 2-1 after opening with a 59-37 victory over the Carolina Panthers, losing 9-3 to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2, and then defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-7, on Monday Night Football. NFL lists Sunday's kickoff for 1:00 p.m. ET at Soldier Field, with the game scheduled to air on FOX.
The matchup presents an intriguing contrast in styles. New York has received strong quarterback play from Geno Smith, who enters Week 4 with 783 passing yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Chicago, meanwhile, has established one of the league's most productive rushing attacks through three games, led by D'Andre Swift's 253 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The Bears also enter the game with considerably more momentum after holding Philadelphia to seven points in their Week 3 victory. That makes Sunday's contest a battle between a Jets offense capable of moving the ball efficiently through the air and a Bears team that can attempt to control the game with its running game and defense.
Geno Smith Gives The Jets A Reliable Passing Option
Geno Smith has been one of New York's most consistent offensive players through the opening three weeks. The veteran quarterback has completed 75.5% of his passes for 783 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. His strongest performance came in Week 3 against Detroit, when he completed 31 of 37 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. NFL information also shows that Smith has avoided an interception through his first three games, giving New York a quarterback capable of attacking Chicago's secondary without putting the offense in frequent turnover situations.
Garrett Wilson is another major component of the Jets' passing attack. Wilson has 21 receptions for 243 yards and two touchdowns through three games and had a particularly productive performance against Detroit, catching 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. However, New York will enter Sunday's game without several players, including running back Breece Hall. Hall is officially listed as out because of a quadriceps injury after finishing the first three games with 163 rushing yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, tight end Mason Taylor, guard Dylan Parham and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa are also officially out. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq and edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare are listed as questionable.
Chicago Can Lean On D’Andre Swift And Its Running Game
The Bears have a significant offensive weapon in D'Andre Swift, who has rushed for 253 yards and three touchdowns on 54 carries through three games. Kyle Monangai has also contributed 178 rushing yards and one touchdown on 30 attempts. That production gives Chicago an effective way to attack the Jets without relying exclusively on its quarterback. Swift was also available without a game-status designation on the latest official injury report, which is important for a Bears offense that could be without its regular starting quarterback.
Caleb Williams is officially out because of a hamstring injury, meaning Chicago will turn to another quarterback Sunday. The latest NFL reporting indicates that Tyson Bagent is likely to start against the Jets. Bagent has appeared in one game this season, completing five of nine passes for 54 yards. Case Keenum, who started Chicago's 27-7 victory over Philadelphia and completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, remains part of the quarterback discussion, but the safest wording ahead of the game is that Bagent is expected to start rather than calling the decision officially confirmed.
The Injury Situation Could Shape The Game
Both teams will be missing important players, making the final matchup particularly dependent on depth. For New York, Hall, Mitchell, Taylor, Parham and Mauigoa are officially out. Sadiq and Enagbare remain questionable. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, has no game-status designation after full participation in practice. For Chicago, Williams, offensive tackle Braxton Jones, defensive lineman Shemar Turner, linebacker Noah Sewell and cornerback Kyler Gordon are officially out. Safety Cam Lewis is doubtful with a hip injury. Swift has no game-status designation, while several other Bears players, including Jonah Jackson, Grady Jarrett and Joe Thuney, also have no game-status designation on the latest NFL report.
The defensive matchup could be just as important as the quarterback situation. NFL's current game-center statistics show the Jets with eight defensive sacks and the Bears with seven. Chicago has three interceptions and a plus-three turnover differential, while New York has no interceptions and a plus-one turnover differential. Those numbers highlight an important potential advantage for Chicago: the Bears have already demonstrated an ability to create takeaways, while the Jets have protected the football through the air. If Smith continues to avoid turnovers, New York can keep this game within reach; if Chicago's defense generates short fields, the Bears could gain control.
Prediction: Bears 24, Jets 21
The prediction is a 24-21 victory for the Chicago Bears, but this projects as a competitive game rather than a one-sided contest. New York has the more established quarterback situation, with Smith entering the matchup after a 321-yard, three-touchdown performance against Detroit. The Jets also have a productive receiving option in Wilson and have shown that they can generate points against quality opponents. Their defense should give them opportunities to stay close, particularly if it can pressure Chicago's quarterback and force the Bears into obvious passing situations.
Chicago's path to victory is more likely to come through balance. Swift and Monangai give the Bears a strong rushing combination, while the team's defense enters the game after holding Philadelphia to only seven points. The Bears also have home-field advantage and are coming off their most impressive result of the season. Their 27-7 victory over the Eagles demonstrated that they can win while playing complementary football, and another strong defensive performance would reduce the pressure on whoever starts at quarterback.
New York has enough passing firepower to make this a close game, but Chicago's running game, defensive playmaking and home-field advantage provide the deciding factors in this projection. The Jets' loss of Hall is particularly significant because it removes an important element of their offensive balance, placing additional responsibility on Smith and the passing game. If Chicago can limit Wilson, pressure Smith and avoid giving New York short fields, the Bears should have a realistic path to controlling the second half. Final Prediction: Chicago Bears 24, New York Jets 21.
