For one fleeting moment, every New York Jets fan thought the most unexpected man had just broken the team’s historic interception drought.

Unfortunately, it was called back due to a penalty, and the beat marched forward — despite a team celebration that extended the fantasy a little longer.

That was until the most likely of candidates officially put an end to the nonsense. Minkah Fitzpatrick’s second-quarter interception of Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent officially ended the misery.

Trailing 0-7, early in the second quarter of Week 4’s matchup, Fitzpatrick made Bagent pay for a late throw over the middle. Not since Ashtyn Davis picked off Tyler Huntley on Jan. 5, 2025 (the 2024 season) have the Jets intercepted a pass.

Why Ben Johnson threw the ball two straight times on that drive is anybody’s best guess.

Leading 13-3 at halftime, Chicago ran for 112 yards on 26 carries in the first half. The time-of-possession game is severely lopsided, with the Bears’ offensive line winning at the line of scrimmage.

What’s more interesting is Aaron Glenn’s game plan: For the second straight week, he’s playing the patient card. Instead of extra early-down run fits, he’s consistently playing two-deep, while daring Johnson and Bagent to become impatient.

JET XStrategy Session
ON THE CHALKBOARD

Big Nickel

2nd & 6 · Balanced 12 personnel

OVER · SINGLE HIGH
Big Nickel2nd & 6 · Balanced 12 personnel. In this Over front, Phillips shades the outside shoulder of the right guard and Sweat shades the center to the weak side. Cisco is the deep safety; Belton and Fitzpatrick align at linebacker depth. The offense’s right is the declared strength.404030302020JET XSTRENGTH: RIGHT →LOSTELTLGCRGRTTEWRWRQBRBKingsley Enagbare — EDEDT'Vondre Sweat — DTDTHarrison Phillips — DTDTDavid Bailey — EDEDJamien Sherwood — LBLBDemario Davis — LBLBBrandon Stephens — CBCBAzareye'h Thomas — CBCBAndre Cisco — FSFSDane Belton — SSSSMinkah Fitzpatrick — NBNB
  • 4 DL · 2 LB2 CB · 3 S

Illustrative Game Simulator lineup.

The thinking behind the formation

More versatility.
Same physicality.

Aaron Glenn's defense often deploys Big Nickel for a specific purpose: It allows them to deploy a versatile style of defense while not yielding too much against the rushing attack.

Usually, Nickel is a defense reserved for 11 personnel; when offenses go lighter with a 3WR set, defenses match with a 5DB set. Traditionally speaking, that 5DB set comes in the form of an extra cornerback.

Big Nickel instead gets a third safety on the field, and this look can be used against 11 or 12 personnel.

Especially in the modern NFL, where vertical threat tight ends act more as athletic receivers, using a low-box safety — who could do enough against the ground game — helps counteract the mismatch advantage the faster tight end often creates.

In this Over front, Phillips shades the outside shoulder of the right guard and Sweat shades the center to the weak side. Cisco is the deep safety; Belton and Fitzpatrick align at linebacker depth. The offense’s right is the declared strength.

Although the Minkah interception was a result of Chicago’s impatience, for the most part, they’ve run the ball against lighter boxes.

Geno Smith completed just 3 of 8 passes for 18 yards in the first half. Garrett Wilson collected 13 yards on 2 receptions, and Braelon Allen snagged the other one.

If the New York Jets want any chance of getting back into this game, their rushing attack must get going.