The New York Jets’ 23-12 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday did more than extend a three-game skid. It left the Jets at 1-3, exposed a lopsided performance in all three phases and gave renewed force to concerns about whether head coach Aaron Glenn can get the team moving in the right direction.
Locked On Jets host John Butchko said the loss felt especially deflating because New York had shown enough through the first three weeks to create some optimism. Instead, Chicago held the ball for 42:45, ran 89 offensive plays and outgained the Jets 492-157. The Jets offense managed 32 plays, went 0-for-7 on third down and committed 12 penalties for 76 yards.
Butchko argued that the result raised a larger question about Glenn, now in his second season as the Jets’ head coach. Butchko did not call for an immediate coaching change, saying a dismissal four games into a season would create disruption without providing much of a practical advantage. Still, he questioned what Glenn’s team does well enough to offset the problems that surfaced in Chicago.
The immediate offensive test falls on Jets quarterback Geno Smith, who completed 8 of 15 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Bears while taking three sacks. Butchko viewed Smith’s struggles against pressure as the most fixable part of the loss, provided the performance proves to be an outlier rather than a trend.
Butchko was less optimistic about the defense. He argued that the unit’s run-focused construction has left too little dependable pressure around New York Jets linebacker David Bailey, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Chicago ran for 232 yards, and the Bears repeatedly controlled the game with long possessions despite the Jets forcing two turnovers.
That distinction matters heading into Sunday’s home game against the Cleveland Browns. A better showing from Smith could change the tenor around the offense quickly. The defense, however, needs to show it can generate pressure and get off the field without asking a developing rookie pass rusher to carry the load.
Glenn said after the Bears game that the Jets must address the imbalance between 89 defensive plays and 32 offensive plays. Against Cleveland on Oct. 11, New York has a chance to stop the slide. But another performance like the one in Chicago would make the questions around Glenn harder to dismiss.
More New York Jets Essentials
- Every QB Drafted by the Jets
- 5 Best Quarterbacks in Jets History
- 5 Best Running Backs in Jets History
- 5 Best Wide Receivers in Jets History
- NFL’s Richest Owners: Where Does the Johnson Family Rank?
Some or all of this content may have been generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, AI can occasionally produce incorrect information. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
