With an embarrassing performance on \u201cThursday Night Football,\u201d the Detroit Lions turn the page and shift their attention to the New York Jets. Lions head coach Dan Campbell has faced his former offensive coordinator in Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, winning both games, and now he\u2019s facing off against former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Glenn\u2019s looking to improve after an awful 2025 in his head-coaching debut season and keep his head above water.<\/p>\n
Detroit enters the contest 1-1, and after a tough loss on national television, they\u2019ll be hungry to get back on the field and right the wrongs of last week. New York is also 1-1 and coming off an overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers at home. The Lions need this win badly to wash the bad taste out of their mouths early in the season. The Jets will want to bounce back from the win they fumbled and regain momentum.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a deep look at the Jets and how much they\u2019ve changed ahead of Week 3.<\/p>\n
3-14 record (4th in AFC East)29th in points for, 31st in points allowedOverall DVOA: 32nd (30th on offense, 31st on defense)<\/p>\n
2025 was not a fun introduction to being a head coach for Glenn. The defense was a laughing stock in the NFL, and the offense had a revolving door at quarterback. Injuries also didn\u2019t help the team\u2019s chances of putting something together. After having successful seasons in Detroit, Glenn got another taste of what it\u2019s like to be at the bottom again.<\/p>\n
At quarterback, the Jets had Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook all start last season. Together, the trio threw for 2,385 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Fields was the best of the three, throwing for seven touchdowns and only one interception, but he was benched by Glenn after starting 2-7. Taylor and Cook could manage only one win between them, and neither threw more touchdowns than interceptions.<\/p>\n
The Jets leaned on the ground game, with running back Breece Hall rushing for 1,065 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, and tying with Fields for the most rushing touchdowns with four. While they didn\u2019t find the end zone often, the unit was their most consistent. Star receiver Garrett Wilson only played in seven games and still finished as the team\u2019s top receiver with 395 yards and four touchdowns on 36 catches. Rookie tight end Mason Taylor impressed with 44 catches, 369 yards, and a touchdown.<\/p>\n
The defense is where this team fell apart the most, as they had the fewest takeaways in the NFL with four, all fumbles. The Jets became the first team in NFL history to go a full season without recording a single interception. The best player on defense was EDGE Will McDonald IV, who led the team with eight sacks. With the defense struggling, the Jets traded both DT Quinnen Williams and CB Sauce Gardner to help kick-start a full rebuild.<\/p>\n
Overall, it was a disaster of a season for the Jets. The biggest problem was the defense, which allowed the second-most points in the league at 29.6. Glenn didn\u2019t impress and fired multiple assistant coaches after the season, bringing an overhaul to the coaching staff.<\/p>\n
Key additions: EDGE Joseph Ossai, LB Demario Davis, DL David Onyemata, EDGE Kingsley Enagbare, K Jason Sanders, DT T\u2019Vondre Sweat (trade), S Minkah Fitzpatrick (trade), QB Geno Smith (trade)<\/p>\n
Key losses: G Alijah Vera-Tucker, G John Simpson, LB Quincy Williams, EDGE Michael Clemons, K Nick Folk, EDGE Jermaine Johnson II (trade)<\/p>\n
Round 1: EDGE David Bailey
Round 1: TE Kenyon Sadiq
Round 1: WR Omar Cooper Jr.
Round 2: CB D\u2019Angelo Ponds
Round 4: DT Darrell Jackson Jr.
Round 4: QB Cade Klubnik
Round 6: G Anez Cooper
Round 7: S VJ Payne<\/p>\n
Jets general manager Darren Mougey made some big moves via trade to give the team new life, trading for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and defensive tackle T\u2019Vondre Sweat. That wasn\u2019t the only move on defense: he signed more EDGE rushers in Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare, while also adding interior help with defensive lineman David Onyemata and linebacker Demario Davis.<\/p>\n
On offense, more people left than arrived, as the team traded for quarterback Geno Smith to be their starter but lost both starting guards, John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker. The defense also lost EDGE Jermaine Johnson in the trade for Sweat, along with linebacker Quincy Williams and EDGE Michael Clemons in free agency. Even special teams saw kicker Nick Folk move on before getting replaced by Jason Sanders.<\/p>\n
Once the draft started, the Jets got help in multiple spots, first on defense, drafting EDGE David Bailey to add firepower to that defensive line. The offense got two good weapons in tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., relieving pressure on Wilson to do all the heavy lifting. New York shifted focus back to defense, selecting cornerback D\u2019Angelo Ponds in the second round and defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. in the fourth. To round things out, they drafted project quarterback Cade Klubnik, who they hope could be their future starter, and added depth on the offensive line and in the secondary.<\/p>\n
In the end, this team went hard to address its defensive issues from 2025, revamping its entire defensive line, improving its linebacker room and secondary. The offense could use more attention, but with a coach like Glenn, he\u2019ll believe the defense can do the heavy lifting. After what happened in 2025, if the defense can even be a fraction better, this team can win more games in 2026.<\/p>\n
2026 season thus far (1-1)<\/p>\n
Week 1: Defeated Tennessee Titans 23-10
Week 2: Lost to Green Bay Packers 20-17 (OT)<\/p>\n
20th in points scored, 6th in points allowedOverall DVOA: 8th (14th on offense, 3rd on defense, 26th on special teams)<\/p>\n
The Jets have had a tale of two games so far this season. The Week 1 win against the Tennessee Titans was a strong defensive showing, holding the Titans to 195 total yards, getting three sacks, and recovering a fumble. The offense was average, with the running game as the heavy hitter, and it scored twice. It was a step in the right direction for the team that only captured a victory three times in 2025.<\/p>\n
Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers was similar, but also vastly different in a way. First, the defense played well again, holding the Packers to 199 total yards, getting three sacks, and recovering a fumble. That part is familiar, but the offense and coaching took a step back. After rushing for over 150 yards against Tennessee, New York only mustered 67 yards and found the end zone once. The Jets defense again did all it could to win the game, but the offense could only give them a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter before it all went south.<\/p>\n
New York allowed Green Bay to come back in the fourth quarter and force overtime. The coaching issues came in the fourth quarter, toward the end of regulation. Green Bay completed a 5-yard pass to make it fourth-and-5 at the Jets\u2019 45, and instead of calling a timeout with about a minute left, Glenn allowed the Packers to drain essentially all of the clock, giving Green Bay an opportunity at a game-winning hail mary with no risk.<\/p>\n
Then, once overtime started, the Jets made the controversial decision to take the ball first. It immediately backfired when Smith was sacked twice in a quick three-and-out. The defense would allow Green Bay to move down the field and kick the game-winning field goal. It was a massive failure by the team and completely erased all the good they had from the previous week.<\/p>\n
So far this season, the defense has carried the team, and the offense can\u2019t seem to get things going through the air with Smith. He\u2019s been accurate with a 70.8 completion percentage, but he has only one touchdown and 462 yards to show for it. Hall has done fair with 131 yards and a touchdown, but he\u2019s averaging just 3.4 yards per carry. While Wilson and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell both have over 100 yards, Wilson\u2019s the only receiver to find the end zone.<\/p>\n
Key players ruled out: WR Omar Cooper Jr. (IR)
Key players to monitor: S Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin), EDGE Joseph Ossai (foot), TE Mason Taylor (thumb)<\/p>\n
The Jets are a tad banged up entering Sunday. First, they are down rookie Cooper Jr., and now a thumb injury leaves Taylor week to week. Meanwhile, the defense is missing some of its best, with Fitzpatrick and Ossai at risk of missing this game. Fitzpatrick missed the Packers game, while Ossai has yet to make his debut as a Jet. The defense has been doing well without them, but it certainly couldn\u2019t hurt to strengthen that position.<\/p>\n
The Lions offensive line will have its hands full again on Sunday. New York has completely overhauled its defensive line, and the EDGE position has grown and gained valuable depth. Bailey has a sack in each of his first two games, and last year\u2019s leader in McDonald IV has added one to his total off his solid 2025 season. They\u2019ve also seen production out of Enagbare, with two sacks as his addition to the line has been noticeable.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just sacking the quarterback the EDGE players are doing; they\u2019re also helping stop the run. So far this season, the Jets have allowed an average of 65.5 rushing yards per game. With the Lions leaning on the running game a bit with running back Jahmyr Gibbs, it\u2019ll be a difficult test for them to find holes. If the Jets can slow Detroit\u2019s ground attack and pressure quarterback Jared Goff, an upset could brew.<\/p>\n
Biggest weakness: Quarterback<\/p>\n
While the quarterback position has been a revolving door in the Jets organization for the past decade, Smith is a safe pick, but that\u2019s all you\u2019re getting. Smith did well in Seattle, but struggled in Las Vegas last season and hasn\u2019t impressed much so far in 2026. While he\u2019s taking care of the football, he\u2019s not a threatening quarterback defenses have to worry about. At 35, going on 36, his days of being a threat with his legs are mostly gone.<\/p>\n
The Jets have decent weapons in Wilson, Mitchell, Taylor, and Sadiq, but need a better arm to make more use of them. With little threat in the passing game, opponents can focus on their rushing attack to make it ineffective and force them to beat them with Smith under center. Once this team gets a younger, better quarterback, we could see a true step forward for this offense, which is much needed if the defense keeps playing well. You can only be dominant for so long before players get tired and start making mistakes.<\/p>\n
Key matchup: Lions secondary vs. Jets passing attack<\/p>\n
After allowing back-to-back games of over 400 total yards on defense, the Lions need to wake up on that side of the ball. While the run defense has had both good and bad games, the secondary has struggled mightily in the opening two weeks. Against the Saints, they allowed quarterback Tyler Shough to throw for 410 yards, and they committed four penalties. Against the Bills, the Lions secondary had three penalties and allowed 248 yards, but the mistakes were bigger, with miscommunication leaving players wide open.<\/p>\n
The Jets don\u2019t have an elite receiving core, just Wilson as the main attraction. Mitchell has been average since getting traded to the Jets last season, and with Taylor possibly missing the game, the Jets might only have one threat at the tight end position. Detroit struggled against opposing tight ends last week, but containing one is easier than two.<\/p>\n
If Smith and the passing attack can pick apart the Lions\u2019 secondary left and right, Glenn could be the first coordinator to avenge Campbell. The Lions\u2019 secondary hasn\u2019t had a promising start, and if they lose this game or it\u2019s close because of it, the team might need to make changes back there to avoid spoiling their season. With extra time to prepare, the defense should be able to make the adjustments needed and slow down the Jets.<\/p>\n