The moment New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn walked up to the podium in his introductory press conference in January, he detailed how he wanted his team to play on Sundays.

Physical, smart, and aggressive were just some of the words used during that first meeting.

While the Jets didn’t embody everything Glenn preached in Sunday’s 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they undoubtedly flashed signs that they’re already close to meeting those new-program expectations.

This is at least true on the offensive side of the ball.

The Jets’ offensive identity is authentic

Going into the season, if you had told most Jets fans that the offense would record close to 400 offensive yards and over 30 points in a game, the fanbase would expect a win. A fumbled kick return, mental mistakes in the form of penalties, and miscues in the secondary, though, cost the Jets on Sunday.

Even so, the Jets believe their offense showed exactly how good it could be throughout the 2025 season—especially if it plays like it did both through the air and on the ground.

“We’re going to be whatever we have to be to win the game,” Glenn said. “So, if it goes into that, it is what it is. There might be times we have to throw it more than 22 times. [There will be some] times we might have to run it 40 times. Whatever it costs for us to win games, that’s what we’re going to be.”

New York’s identity is more than just being a team that can score plenty of points. For the first time since 1991—in the Bruce Coslet era—the Jets scored on their first four possessions of a game and didn’t punt in the first half.

Glenn’s no-nonsense approach has seemingly trickled down to the rest of the roster, especially when the opposition pushes them around. Sunday’s shootout was a great example.

While New York was penalized seven times on the day, one of those came courtesy of left guard John Simpson on a play that many Jets fans will forgive. Seconds before the end of the first half, starting quarterback Justin Fields was hit late by Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey.

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Simpson took offense and got into Ramsey’s face, earning a personal foul penalty from the refs.

“It can’t happen,” Simpson told Jets X-Factor after the game. “But ultimately, I was just trying to protect my quarterback. I have to be better.

“We’ve been doing a good job of running the ball, so we just have to stick to that and we’ll be fine.”

Simpson was brought to the Jets as a mauler along the offensive line but also as a player who performed with an edge. The Jets haven’t had that kind of player over the last few years.

It’s why Simpson has become a key part of the team over his two-year run with the team.

It also shows why the offense fully trusts itself as a collective unit.

“I think we played well,” New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields said. “As a team, I think we were bouncing and kind of keeping each other in the fight. That one turnover, they scored, offense, we came back and didn’t let that phase us. Like I said, a lot of fight from our team. I don’t think a lot of people expected us to come out like that.”

New York’s offense was not perfect, but its physical identity showed glowingly in Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh. If the Jets continue to play like they did this week, they will win many more games than people expect this season.

Reporting from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.