🎙 The Quick Take
The Bears defeated the New York Jets, 23-12, on Sunday to extend their season record to 3-1. They controlled this game from start to finish.
With Caleb Williams sidelined, Tyson Bagent efficiently operated Ben Johnson’s offense. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 268 yards. More importantly, The Bears controlled possession for nearly 43 minutes and finished with 34 first downs.
The ground game did the heavy lifting.
Kyle Monangai had a career day, rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. His 1-yard fourth-down touchdown put The Bears on the board in the first quarter. His 5-yard score in the third quarter pushed the lead to 20-6.
The offensive line dominated up front. The Bears ran for 232 yards and converted seven third downs. They also never punted, marking the first time they have accomplished that since 2014.
The defense was just as dominant.
Dennis Allen’s unit held the Jets to 157 total yards and went a perfect 7-for-7 on third-down stops. Geno Smith was sacked three times and struggled to sustain drives.
The Jets managed just two field goals before scoring a late touchdown in garbage time.
The Bears allowed only one touchdown for the second straight week. They now sit at 3-1 and head to Green Bay for a Week 5 divisional showdown.
🔢 The Game in Numbers
492 — Total Yards
The Bears racked up nearly 500 yards of offense, more than three times the Jets’ 157 yards.
146 — Kyle Monangai Rushing Yards
Monangai carried the load with 146 yards on 30 carries, adding two rushing touchdowns.
73.5% — Tyson Bagent Completion Rate
Bagent put the ball in harm’s way a few times, but otherwise played an efficient game while completing 25 of 34 passes.
42:45 — Time of Possession
The Bears dominated possession, holding the ball for 42:45 compared to just 17:15 for the Jets.
3 — Defensive Sacks
The Bears sacked Geno Smith three times, including a sack by Dayo Odeyingbo that extended his streak to three straight games.
↪️ The Turning Point
The Bears were never in serious trouble, even when the score remained close. They controlled the tempo throughout the game.
The turning point came in the third quarter when D’Andre Swift lost a fumble with the Bears holding a 10-point lead. Ben Johnson quickly shifted the workload to Kyle Monangai, who took over the backfield and ran wild in the second half.
Monangai helped The Bears turn a competitive game into a comfortable 23-12 victory.
🏆 Player of the Game
Kyle Monangai carried the load with 30 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns. After D’Andre Swift’s third-quarter fumble, the second-year back took over the backfield and delivered.
Monangai consistently moved the chains and gave the Bears’ offense a physical edge in the second half. His workload and production helped the Bears pull away and put the game out of reach.
🏈 Game Balls
Tyson Bagent (QB)
Bagent put the ball in harm’s way a few times, with multiple potential interceptions wiped out by penalties. Still, he largely played an efficient game and kept the offense operating smoothly.
Rome Odunze (WR)
After being nearly invisible through the first three games, Odunze broke out with six catches for 94 yards to lead the Bears. He also made an impressive contested catch near the sideline after getting blindsided — a notable moment given the concerns about his hands.
Devin Bush (LB)
Bush was flying around all afternoon. He consistently found himself around the ball, made several plays in space and added a timely sack.
Dayo Odeyingbo (DL)
I’m going to repeat two words Bears fans have mocked all offseason: “Motivated Dayo.” Odeyingbo recorded a sack for the third straight game and continues to make the most of his opportunities.
💲 The Stock Market
📈 Stock Up
Kyle Monangai (RB)
Monangai exited late with a thumb injury, so the hope is that it’s nothing serious. The sophomore back is earning more than just his stripes. He’s also earning a larger share of the workload alongside D’Andre Swift.
Rome Odunze (WR)
Not a moment too soon for Odunze. After struggling through the first three games, he finally broke through with six catches for 94 yards to lead The Bears in receiving.
Colston Loveland (TE)
After two rough outings to start the season, Loveland’s arrow has pointed up over the last two games.
📉 Stock Down
D’Andre Swift (RB)
Swift is dealing with a knee issue, but ball security has also become a problem. His goal-line fumble against the Vikings may have cost the Bears the game. His third-quarter fumble against the Jets appeared to get him benched in favor of Kyle Monangai.
Cole Kmet (TE)
There are only so many mouths to feed in this offense, and Kmet is becoming the odd man out. He also missed an opportunity to make an impact as a blocker, getting beaten at the goal line on a play where a stronger block could have sprung the running back for a touchdown.
Montez Sweat (DL)
Two sacks through four games isn’t bad, but Sweat hasn’t been disruptive enough. The Bears need more consistent pressure and impact plays from their highest-profile pass rusher.
🧠 What We Learned
1. Ben Johnson’s Genius
Ben Johnson might actually be able to win with anyone at quarterback. Could he take fourth-stringer Miller Moss and somehow turn him into a game-winning quarterback? I’m not ruling it out. At this point, I’d bet Johnson would enjoy the challenge.
2. Bagent Needs to Protect the Football
Bagent officially had just one turnover, with the other potential interceptions wiped out by penalties. Still, the ball was in harm’s way too often. Bagent needs to do a better job of putting throws where only his receivers can make a play.
3. Monangai Is “The Brute Squad”
“He’s not on the Brute Squad. He is the Brute Squad.”
Princess Bride references aside, Monangai has earned a bigger role near the goal line. Swift can certainly handle those opportunities, and the Bears need his explosiveness. But when they need a few tough yards, Monangai has shown he’s the better power option.
💬 What We’ll Be Talking About
It’s Packers week, so naturally the spotlight turns to the budding rivalry between Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur. Can Johnson maintain his early edge?
We’ll also be talking plenty about Tyson Bagent. He’s already been named the starter for the much-anticipated matchup. Is that the right call, or should The Bears be waiting for Caleb Williams to return?
🌡️ Bears Barometer
By Lovie Smith’s famous “first quarter of the season” standard, The Bears passed the test with a 3-1 record. And they were arguably one play away from being 4-0.
Now comes the biggest test yet: Packers week.
A win in Green Bay would put The Bears firmly in the NFC North race and give them a chance to chase down the undefeated Vikings. A loss, however, would tighten the division race considerably and set up a four-team battle for the North.
At 3-1, The Bears are in a good spot. But Week 5 could tell us just how good this team really is.
