The Bears beat the Jets 23-12. Here’s the report card:
QUARTERBACK — C-PLUS
You have to feel for Tyson Bagent, who can’t buy an NFL start. OK, fine, so he took over the offense from the second snap on and — well? — wasn’t bad. The completions (24 for 36) and yards (261) look great, but Bagent didn’t play as well as No. 3 Case Keenum did last week against the Eagles. He threw behind Colston Loveland and got picked by a Jets defense that, incredibly, hadn’t intercepted a pass since the end of the 2024 season, and was fortunate to get out with just the one turnover. He led Rome Odunze into a punishing hit on a short completion and checked down to a running back when he had Luther Burden running free up the sideline uncovered. And no passing TDs isn’t anything to write home about.
RUNNING BACKS — A-MINUS
Shouldn’t all seventh-round picks be as outstanding as Kyle Monangai? A 30-carry day — 30! — for 146 yards and two touchdowns cements the second-year back as one of the best second bananas in the NFL. After starter D’Andre Swift lost his second fumble of the season in Bears territory, Monangai’s services were called upon again and again and, boy, was he good. A tip of the beer helmet to Roschon Johnson, who actually got four carries and took the first of them for 11 yards.
RECEIVERS — B-PLUS
Who says Odunze doesn’t catch everything that comes his way? He had a 37-yard gain on a post route and hauled in a nice gainer with one hand. Burden started hot, though it didn’t last, and tight end Colston Loveland entered the picture with six catches. As always: These wideouts and tight ends block in the run game.
OFFENSIVE LINE — A-MINUS
Swift not getting into the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 1 is going to sting. It was early, though, and the wall o’ beef was just getting warmed up. Bagent got lit on a sack — the only one of those — but it was Swift who whiffed on a blitzing linebacker. A 232-yard rushing day left everybody happy.
DEFENSE — A
Until Tyrique Stevenson got toasted for a 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Jets had all of six first downs and 99 yards of offense. Still, that play cost the “D” a chance to hold a third straight opponent under 10 points. Three sacks — one on a perfectly timed blitz by linebacker Devin Bush — will work most any week. Even with Stevenson’s bad play, this was an A-game.
COACHING — A
It was strange when Ben Johnson called for a vanilla run on third-and-six from inside the red zone, then opted for a field goal on fourth-and-two. Where’s our favorite riverboat gambler? On the other hand, Johnson knew the guys in the other jersey were called the New York Jets. No need to mess around. Here’s to winning with three different QBs inside of a month. And here’s to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for a third straight good one.