CHICAGO, IL — With Caleb Williams watching in street clothes, and Case Keenum, the hero of Monday Night, watching from the sidelines, the Bears routed the Jets behind Kyle Monangai and Tyson Badgent, combined with a stiff defensive game plan from Dennis Allen. Tyson Bagent managed the game, Kyle Monangai pounded the Jets for 141 yards and two touchdowns, and Chicago’s defense spent most of a sunny Sunday at Soldier Field pinning Aaron Glenn’s offense in place. The result was a 23-12 win that was never
really in doubt: Chicago led 13-3 at the half, pushed it to 23-6 in the 4th quarter, and managed to absorb New York’s only real punch: a 58-yard Geno Smith touchdown to Isaiah Williams with the extra point no good. Monangai’s 1-yard score late in the first and his 5-yard run in the third did the heavy lifting, Rome Odunze (six catches, 94 yards) kept the chains moving, and Cairo Santos cleaned up the rest. For a team already 2-1 coming in, it was the kind of ground-and-control afternoon Ben Johnson has been trying to install — and a reminder that the run game can carry a Sunday when the starter is out with a hamstring.
ESPN’s Game Box Sore
My HOT TAKES and game summary for each quarter of this game:
1st Quarter: Bears 7, Jets 0
The Bears with Tyson Bagent under center were super efficient on the offensive side of the ball. I actually thought that the Jets did a good job of anticipating Ben’s inverse strategy – ie play-action rather than run when the defense is expecting run – but the Bears offense is just to varied, with weapons at too many positions for the Jets to match play-for-play. It’s the difference between a chess master playing a grand master.
So the striped ones took two Swift touchdowns off the board after both were called touchdowns on the field. I think we have thoroughly lost the entire concept of “clear and obvious” as in the preference for the call on the field – as neither of the replays were clear that Swift didn’t cross the goalline before he was down. The NFL simply has to address this. No one is entertained by this kind of nonsensical, picayune review.
The Bears turned it over on downs at the goal line. The Jets took over at their own 1, went nowhere, and Austin McNamara punted them out of immediate trouble.
The next possession was the one that counted. Bagent hit Luther Burden III for 22 yards down the right sideline, Swift bounced outside for 13, and the drive finished the way most of this game would: Monangai, right guard, one yard, touchdown. Cairo Santos made the kick. Twelve plays, 57 yards, and a 7-0 lead with 23 seconds left in the quarter. Geno Smith, in his second stint with New York, had barely been allowed to throw the ball – take that Jets!
Second quarter: Bears 13, Jets 3
Austin Booker opened the quarter by dropping Smith for a 9-yard sack and a three-and-out. Then came the play the Jets had been waiting on for a year and a half. Bagent looked deep middle for Colston Loveland, and Minkah Fitzpatrick stepped in front of it and returned it 27 yards to the Chicago 34. It was New York’s first interception since Jan. 6, 2025 — 643 pass attempts and a league-record 20 games between picks. Bagent had the right read – he just needed more zip on the pass and a better target – had he lead Loveland its a big gainer.
But for all of the Jets celebration, they got a total of 16 yards out of it. Motivated Odeyingbo sacked Smith on the drive, and Jason Sanders bailed them out with a field goal from 36. The Jets were on the board, 7-3, and that was the high-water mark of their first half.
Chicago answered with the methodical approach Ben Johnson has taken with his backups on the field. The Bears marched off an 11-play, 59-yard march ended in a Santos 30-yard field goal. Another 11-play, 68-yard drive ran the clock out, and Santos hit from 30 again as the half expired. Halftime was 13-3. Smith had five passing yards. The Bears had the ball, the line of scrimmage, and the only touchdown.
Halftime Thoughts
The refs were waaaaaaay too involved in the first half, frankly for both teams. Bagent illustrated he can run BJ’s efficient and forward-thinking offense. And Dennis Allen did what I thought he would do to the Jets – keep Geno Smith guessing and force tough down-and-distance situations. One concern: Swift might have a fumbling problem. You know who doesn’t? Kyle Monangai.
Third quarter: Bears 20, Jets 6
New York’s best chance arrived on a gift. Jamien Sherwood jarred the ball loose from Swift, and Brandon Stephens recovered at the Chicago 28. Smith found Isaiah Williams for 15 to the 13, then the drive died. Sanders made it from 30, and the Jets were within a score at 13-6.
It lasted all of one possession. Chicago went 72 yards in nine plays, Monangai carrying the load, and he walked in from the 5 with 2:26 left in the quarter. Santos’s kick made it 20-6. The turnover had bought New York three points – not enough against the Chicago Bears today.
Fourth quarter: Bears 23, Jets 12
The Bears kept to the same script. Pound. The. Rock. Eleven plays, 77 yards, and Santos from 21 pushed it to 23-6 with 10:01 left.
Smith finally got behind the defense. On second down he hit Williams in stride for 58 yards and New York’s only touchdown – it was a busted play by Stephenson, who had dropped a sure interception in the first half. He continues to be a boom and bust player. The extra point was no good, however, so it was 23-12. That one throw was more than half of what the Jets had managed to that point — 99 yards on their first 31 plays.
Chicago then took the ball and kept it. The final possession ran 9:16. Stephens intercepted Bagent on third-and-3 from the Chicago 15, but Demario Davis had jumped offside – Jets fans (and my nephew is one) may complain – but that was a classic recognition by the QB that he had a free play and Bagent threw it up. D’Angelo Ponds appeared to pick off a pass to Kalif Raymond on third-and-8, and that one came back for a hold (again – pretty clear it was picked because of the hold). On fourth-and-1 from the Jets’ 30, T’Vondre Sweat jumped, as Bagent channeled early career Aaron Rodgers, and the first down was free. Four plays later the Bears were in victory formation.
Monangai finished with 30 carries for 146 yards and both Chicago touchdowns. Bagent was efficient enough. Smith went 8 of 15 for 119 yards, a touchdown and three sacks. Chicago outgained New York 492-157, and the Jets finished with 12 penalties, several of them on the drive that ended the afternoon. The scoreboard said 11 points. The field said it was never that close.
I predicted a Rome breakout game and we saw it. Also – Loveland finally so consistent action has he added key reception after receptions. The Bears defense continues to defy expectations, and Kyle Monangai made his case as a co-equal partner in the Bears backfield. Bring on the Pack.
