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New York Jets vs Chicago Bears Prediction, Odds and Best Bet for October 4, 2026

Game time: October 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET

Venue: Soldier Field — Chicago, IL

Article updated Oct 4, 7:09 AM EDT

By SportsJaw Editorial Team

The Chicago Bears will beat the New York Jets, 23-20, in our October 4 forecast, with their NFL-leading rushing attack providing the strongest matchup advantage. New York’s efficient passing and stingy yardage defense should keep the margin close. With Chicago missing Caleb Williams and the Jets facing several offensive absences, neither the supplied spread nor total offers a strong enough edge. The official wager is Pass.

New York Jets vs Chicago Bears prediction and best bet

Chicago is the pick because its running game offers the most convincing foundation for sustaining offense in this matchup. The Bears led the NFL entering Week 4 in both rushing yards per game and yards per carry. That gives them a plausible route to winning without asking their replacement quarterback to carry the offense.

The forecast is narrower than the betting line: Chicago Bears 23, New York Jets 20. Still, a projected three-point margin alone is too thin a reason to back New York +3.5 (-108). The Jets have significant offensive injuries, and Chicago’s recent defensive results make a larger Bears victory a credible alternative. The best betting decision is Pass.

Odds, game time and how to watch

Game: New York Jets at Chicago Bears, Sunday, October 4, 2026, in Week 4 of the NFL season.

Records and recent form: Chicago enters 2-1 after beating Philadelphia 27-7 on September 28. New York is 1-2 and has lost two consecutive games following its opening win at Tennessee.

Quarterbacks: Geno Smith leads New York’s offense. Caleb Williams is out with a hamstring injury. Chicago’s October 2 report said coach Ben Johnson had not selected Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum as the starter.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

SportsJaw odds: New York Jets +3.5 (-110); Chicago Bears -3.5 (-110). Moneyline: New York Jets +165; Chicago Bears -190. Total: Over 43.5 (-110); Under 43.5 (-110).

SportsJaw total: Over 43 (-110); Under 43 (-110).

SportsJaw moneyline: New York Jets +165; Chicago Bears -190.

New York Jets outlook

Smith’s accuracy is New York’s strongest offensive asset. He led the league through three games with a 75.5% completion rate. In the September 27 loss at Detroit, he completed 83.8% of his passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The Jets scored 24 points, but Detroit’s 31 were enough to hand them another loss.

Garrett Wilson and Kenyon Sadiq each topped 100 receiving yards and caught a touchdown against Detroit. That production matters here, although Sadiq is questionable with a back injury. Tight end Mason Taylor, running back Breece Hall, receiver Adonai Mitchell and guard Dylan Parham are out. Those absences make it harder to assume Smith’s previous performance will translate directly to Chicago.

The defense supplies a separate reason to expect a competitive game. New York entered Week 4 allowing 258.3 yards per game, second-fewest in the NFL. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was scheduled to return and practiced fully Friday after a groin issue. Edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare remained questionable with a knee injury.

Chicago Bears outlook

Chicago’s offense averaged 408.0 total yards, third in the league, with 184.3 coming on the ground. Its 5.27 yards per rush gives the Bears a strong starting point against a defense whose overall results have been impressive. D’Andre Swift, Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney finished Friday as full participants without game-status designations.

Keenum offered an encouraging example of what the offense can accomplish without Williams. Against Philadelphia, he threw for 247 yards, accounted for three touchdowns and earned a 110.8 passer rating. He took no sacks and committed no turnovers. That performance strengthens Chicago’s case, although the October 2 quarterback decision remained open.

The Bears have six takeaways through three games and allowed only 16 combined points in their two games after the opener. Their defensive personnel still require attention: Kyler Gordon, Noah Sewell and Shemar Turner are out, while Cam Lewis is doubtful. Offensive lineman Braxton Jones is also out.

Key matchup factors

The most interesting passing matchup comes from multiple-tight-end formations. New York averaged 9.1 yards per attempt from those sets through three games, compared with 7.1 using one or no tight ends. Chicago allowed 186 yards and a touchdown on 11 completions in 15 attempts against multiple-tight-end personnel. That is a promising opening for Smith, but the sample is small, Taylor is out and Sadiq is questionable.

New York’s running game meets a vulnerable opponent, too. The Jets ranked 30th at 3.26 yards per carry; Chicago ranked 31st defensively at 5.09 yards allowed per rush. The matchup offers New York a possible improvement, but Hall’s absence makes that a less reliable part of the forecast.

SportsJaw’s October 4 consensus update at 10:59 UTC favored Chicago -3.5 (-110) at 62% in the blend. Its combined modeled spread count was 374 Chicago selections out of 603, rather than an observed sportsbook ticket count. SportsJaw members and qualified handicappers each favored Chicago at 67%. Those are measures of selection preference, not Chicago’s probability of covering.

New York Jets vs Chicago Bears spread prediction

Spread recommendation: Pass on New York Jets +3.5 (-108) and Chicago Bears -3.5 (-110). The projected margin gives New York a slight directional lean, with its yardage defense and Smith’s accuracy offering reasons to expect a close finish.

Chicago’s rushing advantage and recent defensive results pull the other way. New York’s missing offensive players also weaken the case for relying on its passing efficiency throughout the game. The extra half-point above a field goal is attractive, but the uncertainty around both offenses leaves too little separation to make the Jets an official wager.

New York Jets vs Chicago Bears total prediction

Total recommendation: Pass on Over 43 (-110) and Under 43 (-110). Chicago’s offensive yardage and Smith’s recent passing performance create a reasonable Over case. SportsJaw’s blended total preference is also Over 43 (-110) at 68%. That preference is distinct from a scoring projection.

The defensive evidence makes the Under plausible: New York has limited yardage, and Chicago’s last two opponents each scored fewer than 10 points. Offensive injuries add uncertainty to both scoring expectations. Our 43-point projection lands exactly on the supplied total, leaving no directional edge for a wager.

New York Jets vs Chicago Bears Projected Score & Betting Picks

Game forecast: Chicago Bears 23, New York Jets 20. Chicago’s rushing production earns the winner selection. The strongest counterargument is New York’s combination of accurate quarterback play and a defense that has conceded very little yardage.

Confidence is low. Chicago’s unresolved quarterback choice in the dated report and New York’s offensive absences make the expected margin fragile. The Bears are the forecast winner; both the spread and total remain passes. The single official SportsJaw betting lean is Pass.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Jets20

Bears23

Projected winner Chicago BearsConfidencelow
Pick on the Spread

Published pick: Pass on New York Jets +3.5 (-108) and Chicago Bears -3.5 (-110)

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Pass (article line changed)

Sources

  • Chicago BearsGame Preview: Jets vs. Bears | 2026 Week 4
  • Chicago BearsInjury Update: Caleb Williams officially ruled out for Sunday's game vs. Jets
  • New York JetsJets-Bears Game Preview | Quarterback Certainty and Intrigue in Chicago
#NewYorkJets#ChicagoBears

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Written by

SportsJaw Editorial Team

SportsJaw's editorial organization researches matchup data, current odds, injuries and reporting, then validates each published preview against its listed sources and displayed markets.

About our editorial process

SportsJaw Jets vs Bears game preview analysis and predictions incorporate current odds, injury reports, team statistics and market data. Information is updated regularly, but lines and player availability can change. Please confirm current information before wagering. View history of past Jets vs Bears matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · New York Jets+320 → +165Moved
  • Moneyline · Chicago Bears-410 → -190Moved
  • Spread · New York Jets+8.5 (-110) → +3.5 (-110)Moved
  • Spread · Chicago Bears-8.5 (-110) → -3.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Over45.5 (-110) → 43.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Under45.5 (-110) → 43.5 (-110)Moved

ATS and O/U trends

New York Jets
1-2 matchup record · 3-5-2 ATS · 6-4-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
Chicago Bears
2-1 matchup record · 6-3-1 ATS · 4-6-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2026-10-01T22:40:14.149Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

The forecast is narrower than the betting line: Chicago Bears 23, New York Jets 20. Still, a projected three-point margin alone is too thin a reason to back New York +3.5 (-108). The Jets have significant offensive injuries, and Chicago’s recent defensive results make a larger Bears victory a credible alternative. The best betting decision is Pass.

Quarterbacks: Geno Smith leads New York’s offense. Caleb Williams is out with a hamstring injury. Chicago’s October 2 report said coach Ben Johnson had not selected Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum as the starter.

Garrett Wilson and Kenyon Sadiq each topped 100 receiving yards and caught a touchdown against Detroit. That production matters here, although Sadiq is questionable with a back injury. Tight end Mason Taylor, running back Breece Hall, receiver Adonai Mitchell and guard Dylan Parham are out. Those absences make it harder to assume Smith’s previous performance will translate directly to Chicago.

Recent head-to-head

No completed head-to-head result is available in the current history window.

Final result

Matchup pick recap

Chicago Bears defeated New York Jets 23-12

Chicago Bears defeated New York Jets 23-12 on October 4, 2026, a 11-point decision in the series. Chicago Bears' strongest period was the 1st quarter, when it outscored its opponent 7-0. Against SportsJaw's recorded New York Jets +3.5 (-110) spread, Chicago Bears covered, while the 35 combined points finished under the recorded total of 43.5.

SportsJaw editorial picks

  • Projected winnerChicago BearsWin
  • SpreadPass on New York Jets +3.5 (-108) and Chicago Bears -3.5 (-110)Pass
  • TotalPass on Over 43 (-110) and Under 43 (-110)Pass

Tipster picks

  • GustavosintoTotal · Over 43 (-110)Loss
  • JamescashiolaSpread · Chicago Bears -3.5 (-110)Win
  • Teddy718Total · Over 43 (-110)Loss
  • BillywatersSpread · New York Jets +3.5 (-110)Loss
  • MrmisterSpread · Chicago Bears -3.5 (-110)Win
  • 1489684734Spread · Chicago Bears -3.5 (-110)Win