Sep 27, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn looks on during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Minkah Fitzpatrick snagged an interception, ending the 637-day streak without an interception, but the offense struggled to get the ball moving, as the New York Jets lost to the Chicago Bears 23-12.
Coming into the game, the Jets carried strong momentum after their battle with the Detroit Lions. The Chicago Bears have been playing without Caleb Williams, but it hasn’t affected them, as they put together a dominant win against the Philadelphia Eagles with Case Keenum at QB. Today, the Jets would face Tyson Bagent, who was recovering from a concussion.
The game was quiet at the start of the 1st quarter. The Bears almost had a chance to score early, but Brandon Stephens’ goal-line stand kept them from doing so.
Before the end of the 1st quarter, Kyle Monangai’s 1-yard rushing TD put the Bears up 7-0.
Midway through the 2nd quarter, after 637 days, the Jets finally recorded an INT when Minkah Fitzpatrick snagged one off Tyson Bagnet to give the Jets the ball. Before that, D’Vondre Sweat nearly ended the streak, but the play was called back for a penalty.
After the INT, Jason Sanders would kick a 36-yard FG, and the Jets would trail the Bears 7-3.
The Bears answered with a 30-yard FG by Cario Santos, taking a 10-3 lead.
Before halftime, even after a Demario Davis sack, the Bears drove downfield and kicked another field goal, leaving the Jets down 13-3 at halftime.
The Bears offense ran rampant against the Jets defense throughout the day, but at the midway point of the 3rd quarter, D’Andre Swift fumbled, and Brandon Stephens recovered it, giving the Jets good field position at the Chicago 28.
The Jets forced takeaways but did little with them, especially after the Swift fumble, and managed only another Sanders field goal, trailing the Bears 13-6.
Kyle Monangai’s 2nd rushing TD of the day would extend the Bears’ lead over the Jets to 20-6, close to the end of the 3rd quarter.
With the game looking out of reach, the Jets scored on a 58-yard Isiah Williams TD catch to make it 23-12 after Sanders missed the extra point. Before that, the Jets had only 99 total yards of offense all game.
The Bears would control most of the clock, as the Jets looked like a completely different team from what we saw a week ago in Detroit, losing 23-12 to the Bears.
The Jets were just impacted by the Bears’ defense, as they were getting to Geno Smith all day, being sacked 3 times, with some of those on third downs. The Jets were also missing five key offensive contributors: Omar Cooper Jr., Breece Hall, Dylan Parham, AD Mitchell, and Mason Taylor. Likely affecting how the offense functioned today against the Bears.
Kyle Monangai rushed for 146 yards and scored twice, showing the Jets failed to stop the run.
It’s cool to say the Jets have a win because around this time last year, there were serious conversations that they would go 0-17, but they really should have at least 3 wins, given how close the games have been.
The Jets will come back home to MetLife Stadium next week to face a red-hot Cleveland Browns team coming off a 3-1 start. Given how the Browns have been playing, they don’t look like the same Cleveland Browns. So, the Jets must step it up if they want to be back in the conversation as contenders in the league.