CHICAGO — Quarterback Geno Smith struggled Sunday as the New York Jets fell 23-12 to the Chicago Bears, marking a sharp decline from his strong performance the previous week. Smith completed only 53.3 percent of his passes, connecting on 8 of 15 attempts for 119 yards and one touchdown, a significant drop from his league-leading 75.5 percent completion rate over the first three games of the NFL season.

Smith acknowledged the subpar showing, noting that he could have executed the passing game better. Despite his efforts to rally the Jets against the Detroit Lions last week—when he threw three touchdown passes—Smith and the Jets offense were unable to establish a consistent rhythm against the Bears. The Jets’ offensive struggles were apparent in their limited possession time, holding the ball for just 17 minutes overall and only 45 seconds in the fourth quarter. Their 32 offensive plays in the game represented a franchise low.

The game was off to an unusual start for New York, with the Jets running only four plays during the first quarter, three of which took place inside their own 10-yard line. Smith described the situation as “not a normal situation” and emphasized the importance of executing regardless of field position. He stressed the need for complementary football to support the defense and acknowledged that there is room for improvement in this area.

New York failed to convert on any of their seven third-down attempts, and several of Smith’s throws missed their marks—an uncommon issue for the quarterback earlier in the season. Jets coach Aaron Glenn recognized the missed opportunities but expressed confidence that Smith and the rest of the team will strive to perform better moving forward.

Smith appeared somewhat physical in the second half but reported no injuries. He remains optimistic about the team’s prospects and emphasized a commitment to improving after the loss.

“You’ve got to get back to work and demand it from yourself,” Smith said. “It starts with the man in the mirror. Obviously, as a group, we can all play a lot better. I have a lot of belief in this team and this offense.”