Chicago Bears vs New York Jets preview, prediction, betting odds, live stream info
Chicago Bears vs New York Jets
The Chicago Bears are riding high after a fourth quarter comeback against the San Francisco 49ers to win 28-20 and the New York Jets are reeling after losing two separate 14-point leads in their 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Geno Smith and the Jets will look to regroup in MetLife Stadium on Monday Night Football against Jay Cutler and the Bears with both teams at 1-1.
Date: Monday, Sept. 22
Start time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: East Rutherford, NJ
Stadium: MetLife Stadium
TV info: ESPN
Live stream: Watch ESPN
Radio: Bears broadcasts here. Jets broadcast here.
Ticket info: For Bears ticket info click here. For Jets ticket info click here.
Keys to Victory
The Jets have the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL through two weeks with an average of 179 yards per game on the ground. Last year’s Bears rushing defense was the worst in franchise history and the team addressed the defensive line in the draft and free agency, but still rank 27th in the NFL this year with 161 yards allowed per game.
Chris Johnson has not been the featured back for the Jets as that role has gone to Chris Ivory who leads the team with 145 yards and two touchdowns. New York has to be able to run the ball on the Bears because the passing game ranks 29th in the NFL with 178 yards per game, so if the Bears can take away the run game, the road team should improve to 2-0 on the year.
Chicago owns the NFL’s No. 30 rushing offense after the 49ers shut down Matt Forte to 21 yards on 12 carries and that plays to what the Jets do well on defense with the league’s No. 1 rush defense with Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson among the best defensive line duos in the entire NFL.
That will put an onus on the Bears to move the ball through the air with Cutler finding Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery who played hurt last week and were noticeably lacking in their explosion, but Marshall still managed to have three touchdowns. Former Jets receiver Santonio Holmes could find a few more targets this week after having two catches for 20 yards in Week 2.
Betting Odds
Point spread: Jets -3
Moneyline: -145
Over/Under: 45.5
Prediction
This game is going to come down to the Bears stopping the Jets rushing attack and the Jets stopping the Bears passing offense that ranks ninth in the NFL. Dee Milliner and the Jets secondary was toasted by Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson as the duo connected for nine receptions for 209 yards and a touchdown. Randall Cobb also had two touchdowns as the Jets allowed 346 yards through the air.
Ultimately, I have more confidence in the Bears defense limiting the Jets offense and putting Smith in unfavorable third downs than I do in the Jets defense slowing down the Bears passing attack.
Final Score: Jets: 20, Bears: 27