EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears needed to claw back from a big deficit last week.

On Monday night, they had to hang on against the New York Jets.

“It was quite a game,” Bears coach Marc Trestman said after a 27-19 victory that wasn’t sealed until the final moments.

Even after spotting the Bears a 14-0 lead with early mistakes, the Jets had one last opportunity to tie, getting into Bears territory on Geno Smith’s 51-yard pass to Greg Salas. But Jeremy Kerley came down out of bounds in the back of the end zone after making a leaping grab of Smith’s desperation fourth-down heave from the Bears 9.

Cutler then took a knee three times to seal the victory for the Bears (2-1).

“We just have to ride this momentum,” Cutler said.

Cutler threw two touchdown passes to Martellus Bennett and Ryan Mundy returned an interception 45 yards for a TD. Cutler finished 23 of 38 for 225 yards and Alshon Jeffery caught eight passes for 105.

.