How do you lose to a team without its starting quarterback by double digits? Ask the New York Jets. New York dropped to 1-3 after a 23-12 loss to the Chicago Bears, and it was by far the worst performance of the 2026 season. The Jets got outmatched in every single phase.

Look, New York was banged up too. I’m not ignoring that. But this was a great opportunity. Bears QB Caleb Williams did not play because of an injury, and Tyson Bagent got the start for Chicago. The Jets still could not do anything to compete with the Bears. There were two players in the Jets secondary who did great things today, but to no avail. It’s hard to take any positives on a day like today. 

Winners

S Minkah Fitzpatrick

This was really Minkah Fitzpatrick’s first full game as a Jet. He returned from the injury he suffered against the Titans in Week 1, and he was everywhere. Fitzpatrick led the team with 16 total tackles, added a pass breakup, and picked off a pass.

That interception is a big deal. It snapped New York’s streak of 20 games without an interception. Still, Fitzpatrick looked like exactly the type of player this defense needed. On the other hand, it’s not a great sign if Fitzpatrick, a safety, is leading the team in tackles. The Jets defensive line, which I will hit on later, got bullied by the Bears all afternoon. 

CB Brandon Stephens

Brandon Stephens has had a tough tenure with the Jets so far. This game was a step in the right direction. He had a nice pass breakup and a fumble recovery. He also had an interception wiped off the board because of a Jets offside penalty. That means Stephens could have walked away with two turnovers. I thought he played one of his best games as a Jet, and New York needs more of that from him.

Losers

The offensive line

The Jets offensive line was brutal. Bears pass rushers sacked QB Geno Smith three times, and New York ran the ball 14 times for only 59 yards. That isn’t going to cut it against anybody. This also wasn’t a one-week problem. The line struggled in Detroit last week, and this marked the second straight bad performance from the group up front. It’s a group that is not living up to the names on the back of their jerseys. 

The defensive line

Make no mistake, this was the worst-performing group of the day. The Jets defensive line got to Bagent just one time, and he stayed clean for most of the afternoon. Chicago ran the ball 54 times for 232 yards. New York finally found the end zone on a touchdown to Isaiah Williams, and it had a chance to make a game out of it. Instead, the Jets could not get off the field. The defensive line contributed mightily to that. 

Aaron Glenn

The time of possession tells the whole story. Chicago held the ball for 42:45, while New York had it for just 17:15. You won’t win many games with a gap like that. The Jets also committed 12 penalties. Game management from Jets coach Aaron Glenn and his players was not good, and that falls on everybody. Aaron Glenn’s defense contributed to the Jets getting outgained 492-157 on the afternoon. The Jets also had seven first downs to the Bears 34. Ben Johnson dominated this coaching matchup. 

TE Kenyon Sadiq 

Tight end Kenyon Sadiq came off a huge game against the Lions, and he disappeared in this one. Obviously, the Jets offense was not on the field enough to feed him the ball. Even so, New York could not get him open. Sadiq finished with four targets, zero receptions, and no yards. After the way he played against Detroit, that was a disappointing step back.

CB D’Angelo Ponds

Rookie cornerback D’Angelo Ponds had to come in after Jarvis Brownlee Jr. suffered an injury. In his first real slate of action, Ponds had a tough time. He struggled in coverage and drew a penalty in the fourth quarter. I’m not going to bury a rookie for one rough afternoon. But this was a learning experience, and the Jets needed him to grow up quickly with Brownlee banged up.

Where the Jets go from here

Fitzpatrick and Stephens gave this team something to build on in the secondary. That part is real. But the Jets lost this game in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and they made it worse with a dozen penalties. Until both lines start winning their matchups, New York is going to keep landing on the wrong side of games like this one.

Time is ticking for head coach Aaron Glenn. If the Jets don’t start winning some of these games that they should, his tenure could come to a quick end.