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The New York Jets' promising start to the 2026 NFL season has quickly unraveled, as the team dropped its third straight game on Sunday, a 23-12 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Quarterback Geno Smith, the former West Virginia standout, didn't mince words about the offense's struggles after the defeat.
New York began the year with a 23-10 road victory over the Tennessee Titans, but followed that with an overtime home loss to the Green Bay Packers (20-17) in Week 2 and a 31-24 road setback against the Detroit Lions in Week 3. While the Jets remained competitive in those two defeats, they were thoroughly outplayed by Chicago.
The numbers paint a stark picture: New York managed just 157 total yards while allowing 492 to Tyson Bagent and the Bears. The Jets offense repeatedly stalled, failing to convert any of their seven third-down attempts. Chicago, meanwhile, racked up 34 first downs compared to just seven for the visitors.
"We've got to execute and do whatever we can to keep our defense off the field," Smith said after the game, via the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "That's a part of playing complementary football. I think we can do a lot better job in that area."
Key Analysis
Chicago's dominance was evident on both sides of the ball. Even without Caleb Williams, and with Bagent failing to record a passing or rushing touchdown, the Bears controlled the game. For the first time since 1997, Chicago held an opponent without a single third-down conversion. The disparity in plays—89 for the Bears versus 32 for the Jets—was glaring.
Head coach Aaron Glenn echoed Smith's concerns. "We have to do a better job of complementing each other, and that did not show up today at all," Glenn said. "When you have the discrepancy of 89 plays and 32 plays, it's something we have to look at and something we have to continue to work on. That's the only thing we can do is continue to work."
The 1-3 Jets will look to halt their skid in Week 5 when they host the red-hot Cleveland Browns. New York quarterback Smith (7) warms up before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.
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Originally reported by yahoo.