The Chicago Bears defense appears to have caught a significant break ahead of Sunday's matchup with the New York Jets.
New York is expected to be without running back Breece Hall, who suffered a quad injury during Sunday's 31-24 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn has described Hall as week-to-week, and reports out of New York indicate he is expected to miss Sunday's game.
The injury isn't believed to be as severe as initially feared, but it could still remove one of the Jets' most dangerous offensive players for Week 4.
Jets running game was already struggling
Hall's absence becomes even more significant because New York wasn't running the football particularly well with him.
The Jets enter Bears week ranked 26th in rushing yards per game and 30th in yards per carry. Bruising young back Braelon Allen is expected to assume a larger role, with Isaiah Davis also available.
New York could also face another problem up front. Starting guard Dylan Parham left the Detroit game with a knee injury. It's just another opportunity for a Bears defense coming off its best performance of the season.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Bears can make Jets one-dimensional
The Bears defense turned back the clock against the Eagles, forcing three turnovers and allowing only seven points on Monday Night Football.
Now Dennis Allen could have an opportunity to turn Sunday's game over to his pass rush.
Jets quarterback Geno Smith has already been sacked nine times through three games, and if New York can't establish a running game without Hall, Chicago can put even more pressure on Smith to carry the offense.
That's where Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo and the Bears' pressure packages can pin their ears back and get after it.
Bears can't overlook Geno Smith
At first glance, Geno Smith doesn't strike fear into Bears fans. But the Jets are 1-2, and their offense is improving.
Smith helped New York erase a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit against Detroit before the Lions ultimately won 31-24 in Week 3. He's been surprisingly efficient and, at times, clutch.
So Hall's absence doesn't make Sunday easy; the Jets still have a handful of playmakers who can threaten the Bears' defense. But if he doesn't suit up, New York is less balanced.
And after watching Chicago's defense create three takeaways Monday night, that's exactly the kind of matchup Dennis Allen should want.
BearsTalk Analytics2026 season
How the players in this story are grading
59.4Montez Sweat. BTX grade 59.4 out of 100, rank 32 among 107 qualified edge rushers.
37.4Breece Hall. BTX grade 37.4 out of 100, rank 43 among 71 qualified running backs.
29.4Braelon Allen. BTX grade 29.4 out of 100, rank 49 among 71 qualified running backs.
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