Sep 13, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) waves to the crowd as he walks off the field after the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
When’s the last time Jets fans have left Week 1 feeling good about themselves? Not counting the opening night fiasco of 2023 against Buffalo, the last time Gang Green started the year 1-0 was in 2018, when they went into Detroit and shellacked the Lions in Sam Darnold’s first career game.
So it’s safe to say that it has been a while.
But with their 23-10 win over the Titans on Sunday, the Jets are flying high. We have no idea how high they’ll fly this year, but before they either crash or keep soaring, let’s look at three things separating this year’s squad from the 3-14 train wreck of last season.
Breece and Geno did their thing
There was plenty of concern heading into Sunday about how this new-look offense would gel, especially with Breece Hall coming off of a groin injury that sidelined him for the last two weeks of August. The fifth-year running back silenced any questions about his health with 102 yards and a touchdown, looking every bit like the man who crossed 1,000 yards last year.
Geno Smith entered his second Jets stint with questions about ball security, but he settled in and provided a steady hand under center. He held onto the ball and completed 79.2% of his passes thanks in large part to a sturdy offensive line that is returning four starters.
Young offensive talent a mixed bag
The youngsters had good and bad moments. Kenyon Sadiq was limited due to his continued recovery from a groin injury but flashed the talent that made him an All-American with Oregon. He caught three balls and ran for a touchdown, becoming the first tight end since Ozzie Newsome to score his first TD on the ground.
Mason Taylor was less impressive; Sadiq’s fellow tight end had high expectations heading into his second campaign but struggled in Nashville. Not only did he have only two grabs for negative yardage, but committed a false start which derailed New York’s second scoring drive near the end zone, forcing the Jets to settle for three. With Sadiq impressing early, Taylor may be fighting for snaps sooner rather than later.
Omar Cooper Jr. looked fantastic with the ball in his hands, but the issue is that he only got it once. Cooper turned a three-yard drag route into a 30-yard showcase of his agility and strength, breaking out of a tackle and hitting a spin move before being brought down at the three, setting up Sadiq’s score. Unfortunately, Cooper soon left the game with a high ankle sprain, and currently there is no set timetable for his return.
The pass rush looks legit
Cam Ward didn’t have a moment to breathe in the pocket and was sacked three times, including David Bailey’s first career sack. Bailey was in Ward’s face all game long, with six pressures from the second overall pick. Bailey and Will McDonald’s strong play opened things up for the rest of the pass rush to feast; they pressured Ward on 26 of 38 dropbacks. While Tennessee’s offensive line has been poor for years, the fact that New York’s defensive front graded out as elite both by the eye test and PFF metrics is a fantastic sign.
Aaron Glenn is still on the hot seat; a win against a last-place team doesn’t change that. But New York looked like a complete team on Sunday, and after years of asking for just that, Jets fans around the world feel good.
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