Bears’ Most Dominant Win Yet Exposed an Ugly Problem
Bears’ Most Dominant Win Yet Exposed an Ugly Problem
Janik Eckardt Wed, October 7, 2026 at 7:59 PM UTC
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IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Chicago Bears controlled Sunday’s win over the New York Jets so thoroughly that it almost feels strange to point out a weakness.
They ran 89 offensive plays, gained 492 yards, piled up 34 first downs, did not punt, and held the ball for 42 minutes and 45 seconds. The Jets managed only 32 plays, seven first downs and zero third-down conversions. That is not a normal 23-12 victory. It is the kind of statistical domination that rarely happens in the NFL and when it does, the final result isn’t as close.
And yet, for all the Bears did right, they came away with only two touchdowns in seven trips to the red zone. That is a problem Ben Johnson cannot simply brush aside as Chicago prepares for a much more consequential matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
The Bears were able to survive their red-zone inefficiency against the Jets because they controlled every other phase of the game. Their defense gave New York almost nothing. Kyle Monangai ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Tyson Bagent kept the offense moving well enough to create chance after chance.
But a team cannot expect to repeatedly dominate opponents by a 57-play margin. Against better defenses, more explosive offenses or simply a game that stays close into the fourth quarter, settling for field goals and coming away empty-handed inside the 20 becomes a direct path to losing.
Chicago knows that better than anyone after the Week 2 loss to Minnesota.
Sep 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (obscured) celebrates with linebacker Blake Cashman (51) and quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) after sacking Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent (not pictured) to end the game in the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The Bears had chances to take control of that game but made costly mistakes near the goal line, including D’Andre Swift’s fumble on first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Against the Jets, the issue appeared again in a different form. Swift was initially ruled to have scored twice on the opening drive, only for both touchdowns to be overturned on review. Chicago ultimately turned the ball over on downs.
The Bears got back near the goal line on the following possession. This time, Monangai powered through for a touchdown after needing multiple attempts. That sequence captured the opportunity and the concern.
Chicago’s run game is unquestionably dangerous. The Bears lead the NFL in rushing and have two backs who can wear down a defense in very different ways. Swift has the receiving ability and explosiveness to threaten defenses in space. Monangai brings a physical, relentless style that can change the tone of a drive. But the Bears have not consistently found the clean answer when the field shrinks.
There is no room for a defense to worry about deep routes near the goal line. Passing windows disappear. Safeties can crash toward the line of scrimmage. A runner who might find space between the tackles at midfield suddenly has to fight through multiple defenders in a phone booth.
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That is why the Bears need more than simply calling another handoff and hoping their offensive line creates enough movement.
Oct 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson against the New York Jets at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
Johnson has a roster built for better red-zone production. Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland provide massive targets with the kind of catch radius that should be especially valuable off play action. Rome Odunze’s physicality should be useful on condensed-field throws. Luther Burden III can create quick separation. Swift remains dangerous on option routes out of the backfield. The options are there. The execution has not caught up yet.
The temptation after Sunday will be to view the final score as proof that none of this matters. Chicago won by 11, the offense held the ball for more than two-thirds of the game and the Bears enter Week 5 at 3-1. No one inside Halas Hall is panicking. They should not be.
But Johnson is too detail-oriented to ignore the contrast between the Bears’ overall dominance and their actual scoring output. Usually, an offense that produces 34 first downs and nearly 500 yards does not finish with only 23 points. The gap between those numbers is where the warning signs live.
The Bears had the Jets exhausted and stuck on the field. A sharper red-zone performance would have made the game a complete rout.
That may not matter against a struggling New York team. It remains to be seen whether it matters against Green Bay. Eventually, it will matter against an elite football team. It will certainly matter when Caleb Williams returns and Chicago expects to make a real push toward the postseason.
The Bears have built one of the NFL’s most difficult offenses to get off the field against. They can run, sustain drives and control the pace of a game. Now they need to finish the way they did in Week 1 when they put up 59 points.
Because the next time Chicago has seven red-zone chances, two touchdowns might not be enough.
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Source: “AOL Sports”
