This week, the New York Jets face the Chicago Bears, in a game that the NFL hasn’t seen since the 2018 season where Chicago were 24-10 victors.

There are a few storylines that come into play for this game, one being the quarterback position. It was expected that the game would pit both picks from round one of the 2021 draft against each other, Zach Wilson of the Jets and Justin Fields of the Bears, for the first time in their careers.

However, on Wednesday, Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced that the team would be making a change at the quarterback position this Sunday, with Mike White declared the starter. In addition, Chicago’s quarterback is injured with a dislocated shoulder so it remains up in the air as to whether Fields will be on the field in the Big Apple on Sunday.

The two quarterbacks were arguably having contrasting seasons thus far, with Fields being the shining light for a struggling Chicago team, but Wilson being a weakness in a surprisingly strong Jets team.

Their contrasting fortunes will be a major talking point going into the game, especially given both were selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft - Wilson as the second overall pick and Fields at 11th overall.

Moving away from the two players, another interesting point to note is where the two franchises are in terms of transition. The Jets’ transitional period began once they fired Adam Gase and general manager Joe Douglas brought Saleh on board last year and the team look to be reaping the rewards of the change now as they sit with a record of 6-4 around the halfway mark of the season. 

For Sunday’s opponents, who fired former general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy, to bring in former Indianapolis offensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as head coach and Ryan Poles as Pace’s successor. Now Chicago is at the beginning of their transitional period where a lot of how they do, rests on the development of young quarterback Fields.

After a second loss to the Patriots in a fortnight, New York will be looking to bounce back and get their seventh win of the season at home in front of the Jets faithful at MetLife.

It was a poor offensive display and apart from a field goal, the Jets couldn’t get any points on the board at Gillette Stadium. Defensively, it was brilliant and if they can keep that up whilst also getting some plays going offensively, Saleh’s men can hopefully have a better day at the office against Chicago on Sunday.

Whilst the Jets will no doubt be expecting to see more of Zach Wilson later this season, Saleh's decision to turn to Mike White will be in the hope that he can provide a shot in the arm to the offence that desperately needs one.

White went 1-2 last season while Wilson was injured, beating the Cincinnati Bengals but losing to New England and the Indianapolis Colts. Many Jets fans have been calling for White, and he will now get his chance to pilot the new look receiving group and show his growth since 2021.

Both defences that will be on display in the big apple are strong, with quick, exciting young players but also veteran leaders in both camps for Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and his counterpart, Alan Williams. The likes of Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams and CJ Mosley on the green side of the ball and Jaquan Brisker, Eddie Jackson and Armon Watts on the blue side, will all be looking to make an impact in the game.

Based on the Jets’ record so far this season, each time they’ve lost, they have responded with a victory, boding well for a bounce back on Sunday. It will be interesting to see if the trend continues against Eberflus’ Bears this weekend – when the Jets will be wearing stealth black once again at MetLife Stadium.

Let’s go Jets!