Monangai Runs for 146 Yards and Two Scores as Bears Manhandle Jets, 23–12

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears kept handing the ball to Kyle Monangai, and the New York Jets barely had time to answer. Monangai rushed for 146 yards on 30 carries and two touchdowns, and Chicago stuffed New York for a 23-12 victory on Sunday in one of the most lopsided possession games in recent NFL memory.

The Bears (3-1) amassed nearly 500 yards of offense — 492 in all — with 34 first downs and 89 offensive plays while holding the ball for almost 43 minutes. They did not punt in a game for the first time since 2014. It was the first time an NFL team had more first downs than its opponent had offensive plays since Pittsburgh’s 43-0 victory over Cleveland on Sept. 12, 1999, and the first time since 1997 that Chicago held an opponent without a third-down conversion.

“Toward the end of the game, if they don’t want to be out there anymore, you just keep running at them,” Monangai said, “running at them, four-yard gain, four-yard gain, 20-yarder come out of nowhere, big play in the passing game, and then four-yard gain, four-yard gain, it gets tiring. So you definitely feel it.”

A third quarterback, the same result

Tyson Bagent passed for a career-high 268 yards, going 25 for 34 while subbing for Caleb Williams, who missed his second straight game with a right hamstring injury. In a quirk, veteran Case Keenum — who started Monday night’s 27-7 win over Philadelphia with 247 yards and two touchdowns — took the first snap before Bagent entered. “I got all these memos saying that Tyson was starting before I ever made an announcement so I wanted to get Case out there the first time,” coach Ben Johnson said. “It was like a ceremonial first pitch out there, handing off the torch.”

Monangai scored from one yard out on fourth-and-goal late in the first quarter, then added a five-yard touchdown with 2:26 left in the third to open a 20-6 lead. Cairo Santos kicked three field goals, and Rome Odunze had six receptions for 94 yards. “Shout out to the offensive line, the running backs, the whole offensive crew as well as the defense as well for having a great day,” Odunze said.

Futility, with one flash

The defense did more than its share. Devin Bush, Austin Booker and Dayo Odeyingbo each recorded a sack as Chicago limited New York (1-3) to 157 total yards, seven first downs and 32 offensive plays, going 0 for 7 on third down. The Bears have allowed a total of 28 points in three games since their wild 59-37 season-opening victory at Carolina.

The Jets did end one drought: Minkah Fitzpatrick’s second-quarter interception — stepping in front of Colston Loveland — was New York’s first since Ashtyn Davis had two against Miami in the 2024 season finale, ending an NFL-record 20-game drought. And Geno Smith found Isaiah Williams for a 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Williams’ first score in his 27th career game, trimming the deficit to 23-12 with 9:16 left. But Jason Sanders missed the extra point, and Chicago closed the game with an 18-play, 77-yard drive that ran out the clock.

“We have to do a better job of complementing each other and that did not show up today at all,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said. “When you have the discrepancy of 89 plays and 32 plays, it’s something we have to look at.”

Monangai was dealing with a thumb injury late in the game and said he would know more on Monday. The Jets lost edge rusher Braiden McGregor (chest) and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (concussion). New York hosts Cleveland next Sunday; Chicago visits Green Bay.

Reporting based on coverage by the Associated Press and the Journal Star.