The New York Jets head to Chicago at 1-2, with another familiar problem following them into Sunday. Since the start of 2024, they are 6-14 in regular-season games decided by eight points or fewer, and the first two close games of this season have both ended in losses. That total comes from a 3-7 record in 2024, 3-5 in 2025 and 0-2 through Week 3 this year. Aaron Glenn arrived in 2025, so his portion is 3-7. The full record is a team trend that predates him, but finding a way to change it is now part of his job.
Green Bay Showed How Quickly a Game Can Get Away
The Packers game is the most obvious recent example. The Jets led 17-7 in the fourth quarter before losing 20-17 in overtime. A two-score lead at home turned into another loss, followed a week later by a 31-24 defeat in Detroit.
Those final scores don’t tell the whole story, and losing a close game doesn’t automatically mean the coaching decisions were wrong. Execution matters, too. Still, the Jets have to find a way to turn more of these opportunities into wins, especially when they have already put themselves in position to finish the job.
Have the Fourth-Down Answer Ready
Against Chicago, the late-game plan should start before fourth down arrives. If the Jets know they are willing to use two plays to get a first down, that should influence the third-down call. The offense needs to understand the situation before the play clock becomes another opponent. The same goes for timeouts. One spent sorting out personnel or getting a play called can become the timeout needed to set up a final drive. When protecting a lead, the offense still has to pursue first downs, because giving the ball back leaves the defense with another job to finish.
There is no single answer that works on every fourth-and-short. Field position, the score, time remaining, and how the offense is playing all belong in the discussion. What fans should expect is a decision made with those factors in mind and communicated clearly enough that the players can carry it out.
Overtime Needs a Plan, Too
Those decisions can determine whether a game ever reaches an extra period. For context on how often that happens, The Sports Geek’s analysis of how often NFL games go to overtime or end in a tie looks at the league-wide history. The Jets already have a painful reminder of how much can go wrong after regulation ends.
The NFL rule book limits regular-season overtime to one 10-minute period, so the clock remains part of every possession. The staff needs to know how its approach changes with the score and time available, including when it needs a touchdown. Those conversations should happen before the offense takes the field.
Give New York Jets Fans a Different Finish
Sunday at Soldier Field gives the Jets an opportunity to get back to .500. Ben Johnson and the Bears will present plenty of problems, but the Jets cannot afford to add confusion over the clock or the next play to that list.
If it comes down to a final possession, Glenn needs his team organized and ready to execute. A 6-14 record in close games will not change overnight, but winning the next one would be a good place to start.
