Talks about the New York Jets taking steps forward despite a 1-2 start were greatly exaggerated, and it became abundantly clear that this is Aaron Glenn’s same old mess as it was last season.
Gang Green (1-3) was soundly dominated in a 23-12 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field, committing 12 penalties to further sabotage quarterback Geno Smith’s worst outing of the season and a run defense that was run all over by Kyle Monangai.
The Bears’ running back went off for 146 yards on 30 carries with two touchdowns, while backup quarterback Tyson Bagent firmly outdueled Smith, who completed just 8-of-15 attempts for 119 yards and a score.
The Jets’ veteran passer, now in his second stint with the team, was limited to just five passing yards in the first half alone. A running game without Breece Hall was held to just 59 yards from Braelon Allen.
Chicago outgained New York 492-157.
New York’s first six points came off a pair of turnovers — the first breaking a historic drought.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was able to step up and intercept a Tyson Bagent pass three minutes into the second quarter, which he returned 27 yards to the Bears’ 34-yard line. It was the Jets’ first interception since Jan. 6, 2025 — a whopping 643 pass attempts and a league-record 20 games between picks.
They were only able to get 16 more yards, as a Jason Sanders 36-yard field goal was all Gang Green could muster.
The Jets had a golden chance to get in the end zone midway through the third quarter when Jamien Sherwood forced a D’Andre Swift fumble, recovered by Brandon Stepens on the Chicago 28-yard line.
A 15-yard completion from Smith to Isaiah Williams got the Jets down to the Bears’ 13, but they stalled yet again, forcing them to settle for a second field goal of the day to get within a touchdown at 13-6.
It didn’t last long. The Bears marched 72 yards on nine plays, ending with Monangai’s second score of the day — this time from five yards out to go up 14 with 2:26 left in the third quarter.
After a Chicago field goal made it a 17-point game, the Jets cut it to 23-12 when Smith finally found a way behind the defense with a 58-yard bomb to Williams for New York’s first touchdown of the game, though the ensuing extra point was missed. Still, that lone play was more than half of the Jets’ overall offensive output up to that point, as they gained 99 yards on their first 31 plays of the afternoon.
The Bears managed to run out the majority of the remaining clock thanks to Jets penalties that nullified interceptions and gifted three first downs. On a 3rd-&-3 from the Chicago 15, Stephens picked off Bagent looking down the left sideline, but linebacker Demario Davis jumped offside.
On a 3rd-&-8 at the 33, D’Angelo Ponds got in front of receiver Kalif Raymond and came down with the interception, but it was deemed that he hooked the Bears’ pass-catcher, and a hold gave the hosts another first down inside six minutes to go.
On a 4th-&-1 from the Jets’ 30, Bagent got T’Vondre Sweat to jump offside for a free set of downs with 3:22 to go. Four plays later, the Bears were in victory formation, running out the clock. In total, their final possession spanned 9:16.
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