Bears face Jets looking to snap out of skid

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears were riding high, staring down at the rest of the NFC North for the first time in five years.

They’re in more familiar territory. And it’s not a place they want to stay.

The Bears look to get back to winning after backto-back losses when they host the banged-up New York Jets on Sunday.

“No one past game dictates our season, no game coming up is going to dictate our season,” quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said. “We have the same attitude going every week, and I guess the last couple of weeks because we’ve been 0-2, I think we’re even hungrier. I know I’m just (excited) to get back to work and get back into that win column.”

Falling below .500 would be a major letdown considering where the Bears (3-3) were just a few weeks ago.

They won three straight and took sole possession of the division lead for the first time since 2013 after four consecutive last-place finishes. But they’ve dropped two in a row since their bye, falling in overtime at Miami and by seven at home to New England last week. The losses left Chicago looking up at Minnesota and Green Bay and tied with Detroit in the NFC North.

Trubisky, who passed for six touchdowns against Tampa Bay before the bye, was 26 of 50 for 333 yards against New England. He threw two TDs and two interceptions.

The Jets (3-4) are trying to avoid a repeat of last season, when they finished 5-11 for the second year in a row. They were 3-4 a year ago, and they see this game as a measuring stick.

It would help if they got more from quarterback Sam Darnold. The No. 3 overall draft pick leads the league with 10 interceptions to go with one of the NFL’s worst completion percentages (56.1) and passer ratings (74.3). The former USC star was picked off three times last week against Minnesota in his worst game as a pro.

“Confidence is fine,” Darnold said. “I’m never really shaken at all, but it’s just an experience that I’ve got to learn from.”

Here are some things to know as the Bears and Jets try to get back to winning:

FITTING IN

With injuries to Quincy Enunwa (sprained ankle) and Terrelle Pryor (groin, released with injury settlement), the Jets were in dire need of depth at wide receiver. They signed former Titans star Rishard Matthews on Tuesday.

Matthews had asked to be traded or released by Tennessee because he didn’t like his role in the Titans’ offense. He was released last month, and now could find himself a valuable part of the Jets’ offense Sunday.

Matthews has 228 catches for 3,147 yards and 21 touchdowns in six-plus seasons with Tennessee and Miami.