Bears Take Advantage of Jets’ Mistakes, 19-7 : Interconference: New York misses two field goals, loses two fumbles and loses Esiason because of ankle injury in defeat.

Two weeks after a prime time debacle and a week after a rout at home, the Chicago Bears did their best to erase the memories of those losses. And they got plenty of help from the New York Jets, who self-destructed Sunday night in falling, 19-7.

Chicago lost, 30-22, at Philadelphia in a Monday night game in Week 2, falling behind, 30-0, before a futile fourth-quarter comeback. Then the Bears were beaten, 42-14, at home by Minnesota.

“We came into the game with a better attitude,” said cornerback Jeremy Lincoln, who made a critical play in the fourth quarter by running down Johnny Johnson at the Bears’ 7 following a team-record 90-yard run.

They didn’t have to worry after the Jets’ first series, because New York couldn’t do much right. Even Johnson’s 90-yard run didn’t lead to a score and New York (2-2) lost two fumbles, missed two field goals and saw quarterback Boomer Esiason sidelined because of a sprained ankle after being sacked in the third quarter, leaving him doubtful for next Sunday.

The Jets played like the Bears did in their last two games. And Chicago (2-2), with starting quarterback Erik Kramer (shoulder separation) out and Steve Walsh in, was grateful.

Lewis Tillman scored two short touchdowns, including the clincher after Chris Zorich sacked backup quarterback Jack Trudeau and recovered Trudeau’s fumble in the fourth quarter.

The offense didn’t really do much else, using a conservative strategy with Walsh, who was 14 for 24 for 143 yards