Jets Snap 20-Game Interception Drought But Still Fall to Bears 23-12

CHICAGO — The New York Jets finally recorded an interception on Sunday, ending a 20-game drought, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 23-12 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick picked off Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent in the second quarter, the Jets’ first interception since Ashtyn Davis grabbed two in the 2024 season finale — his last game with the team. The streak had spanned 535 passing attempts.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn downplayed the significance of breaking the streak. “Honestly, I’m not really worried about that,” he said. “We got an interception. Great. But we lost the game. That’s what I’m thinking about — how we get better.”

Fitzpatrick, who returned after missing two games with a groin injury, echoed that sentiment. “Obviously, you wanted to be able to celebrate when you break a negative streak like that, but when you finish the game that we finished, there’s no real reason to celebrate,” he said.

The Jets actually had three additional interceptions wiped out by penalties during the game. Defensive tackle D’Vondre Sweat’s first-quarter pick was nullified by an illegal hands-to-the-face call on Azareye’h Thomas. A later interception by cornerback Brandon Stephens was erased by an offside penalty on linebacker Demario Davis, who called it “a bad mental error on my part that can’t happen.” In the fourth quarter, rookie cornerback D’Angelo Ponds had a pick overturned by his own defensive holding penalty.

“I’m really more upset about the penalties in those moments when we created opportunities to get our offense the ball back,” Glenn said. “Everything else is really just white noise to me. We have to get better.”

The Jets’ passing attack also struggled to get the ball to its top weapons. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who had a big performance last week against Detroit, was targeted just four times, finishing with three catches for 27 yards. Rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who also topped 100 receiving yards against the Lions, was targeted four times but caught nothing.

“Yeah, it is frustrating, but you control what you can control,” Wilson said. “I take a lot of pride in making a play when the ball does come my way. Being a receiver, being one of the guys this organization believes in — I’ve got a long-term contract with them — when the ball comes my way, I’ve got to make the play. I want more on my plate, for sure.”

Wilson added dryly, “I’m good; I didn’t get hit,” referring to his limited involvement. Glenn said he would need to review film to understand why Wilson and Sadiq saw so few targets. “We have to find a way to get him the ball. He’s one of the engines that gets us going, both those guys,” Glenn said.

The Jets also lost two players to injury. Edge rusher Braiden McGregor suffered a chest injury in the third quarter, and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee was removed from the game with a concussion in the same quarter. Neither returned.

On defense, linebacker Jamien Sherwood forced a fumble by Bears running back D’Andre Swift that Stephens recovered, and Davis recorded the Jets’ only sack. Bears running back Kyle Monangai, a former Rutgers standout, ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.

The loss extended the Jets’ futility in Chicago. The team has not won at Soldier Field since 1997, Bill Parcells’ first season as head coach, and is now 0-4 there since.

New York’s inactive list included running back Breece Hall (quad), wide receiver AD Mitchell (finger), edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare, cornerback Nahshon Wright, linebacker Kiko Mauigoa, left guard Dylan Parham (knee) and tight end Mason Taylor (thumb).