1. GET THE GAME ON THE GROUND
All eyes will be on Mike White as Sunday will be his first start of the 2022 season. However, the Jets need to get the rushing offense going to take pressure off White and the team’s passing game.
In the 10-3 loss against the Patriots, the Jets rushed for just 59 yards and averaged 2.6 yards per carry. Since Breece Hall was lost for the season with an ACL injury, Gang Green has just one game in which he rushed for over 100 yards.
Both Michael Carter and James Robinson will need to be huge factors against a Bears defense that ranks 29th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. [142.6]. If Carter and Robinson can run the ball like they did when they recorded 174 yards, the White offense and the Jets should be in good shape in the second half.
2. EARLY AND FREQUENT PRESSURE FIELDS
Bears quarterback Justin Fields enters Sunday’s game less than 100 percent. He told reporters earlier this week that he separated his left shoulder and has partially torn ligaments.
Fields suffered the injury in last weekend’s 27-24 loss to the Falcons. Now he will go against a Jets defense that is known to put constant pressure on quarterbacks.
Against the Patriots, the Jets recorded six sacks on quarterback Mac Jones. Gang Green is tied for fourth in the league in sacks [32]. Fields’ legs are an x-factor, so it will be up to the Jets’ defensive line to minimize his run ability, hitting him behind the line of scrimmage before he gets any positive yardage.
3. WHITE MUST BE MEDIUM
No one expects White to turn into a Pro Bowl quarterback after replacing Zach Wilson. However, the Jets need White to provide plays and make the right reads on offense, something Wilson has failed to do in most of his seven starts this season.
Gang Green had two yards of offense after halftime against the Patriots and a total of 77 passing yards for the entire game. Chicago is eighth in the NFL in yards allowed and has 15 takeaways, so the Jets will face another stingy pass defense for the second straight week.
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