NFL: The Chicago Bears pick up second win as the New York Jets stumble
Tuesday 23 September 2014 10:14, UK
The Chicago Bears made the New York Jets pay for their slow start as they registered a 27-19 victory.
The Bears (2-1) never looked back from taking a 14-0 lead after just five minutes, with both touchdowns coming via New York’s errors.
Ryan Mundy picked off Geno Smith’s attempted pass to Chris Johnson off only the second play of the match to return a 45-yard touchdown.
And then after Jalen Saunders fumbled Pat O'Donnell’s punt, Ahmad Dixon recovered the ball and helped provide the initial platform for the Bears – with Jay Cutler connecting with Martellus Bennett from seven yards for a touchdown.
Nick Folk landed a 43-yard field goal to finally get the Jets on the board, although Robbie Gould replied with a 24-yard effort for the Bears.
Folk landed a second field goal, this time from 28 yards, while Smith’s 19-yard scoring pass to Jeremy Kerley cut the deficit to 17-13 at half-time.
The Bears regained the initiative when Cutler tossed a 13-yard TD pass to Bennett and although Folk hit back with two more field goals (from 22 and 42 yards) , Gould made the game safe with a 45-yard effort.
The Jets (1-2) had a chance to force the tie, but Kerley was out of bounds when he caught Smith's attempted pass on the fourth down with a minute left.
Bears quarterback Cutler completed 23-of-38 passes for 225 yards, while Alshon Jeffery made 105 yards from eight receptions.
Smith threw for 316 yards for the Jets but he was picked off twice.
