First the good news for the New York Jets: Aaron Glenn’s group appears much improved from last season’s squad that went 3-14 in his first year as head coach.
asserted
that → appear → coach
They’re competitive, persistent and resilient.
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They → ’re → ?
Now, the bad news: The Jets are 1-2 and still very much a flawed team that hasn’t quite grasped what it takes to close out games and win.
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it → grasp → games
After a dominant season-opening victory over Tennessee, New York blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter last week and lost to Green Bay in overtime.
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York → open → overtime
On Sunday, the Jets rallied from a 14-point deficit in the final quarter at Detroit to tie it late, only to give it right back to the Lions in a 31-24 loss.
asserted
Jets → rally → loss
“It’s always a heartbreaker because we know what type of team we have,” tight end Jelani Woods said.
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Woods → ’ → team
“We know what we can do.
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we → know → what
Some frustrated fans have chalked up the last two games to being a case of “Same Old Jets,” the often-used phrase to summarize the overwhelming frustration with a franchise that has the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 15 consecutive seasons.
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that → chalk → seasons
But the way the team has played to start this season has shown these Jets to be a bit different.
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Jets → play → season
Glenn needs to start getting the Jets over the hump with some victories, though.
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Glenn → need → victories
“A lot of people have said it: There’s no moral victories in football,” edge rusher Joseph Ossai said.
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Ossai → say → football
“But as a whole, we’re moving toward a place we want to be, as a whole, as a defense, and I think we’ve been doing that the past two games.
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we → move → that
“This third game is just a curveball and we need to deal with that.
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we → need → that
And we’re going to deal with that.”
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we → go → that
There are still major questions about Glenn’s play-calling and clock management, the running game has been stifled the last two games, the offensive line has been shaky, special teams has had coverage issues and the defense — while second in the NFL in yards allowed per game — hasn’t consistently rushed the passer or been able to make game-sealing plays late.
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defense → be → plays
Also, the Jets’ interception drought has reached an NFL-record 20 straight games.
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drought → reach → games
Glenn said there needs to be “urgency” by him and his team as they prepare to face the Bears in Chicago on Sunday.
“Man, we’re in a race to improve on some of these things that we have to get fixed so we can get ready to play against another good opponent,” Glenn said.
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Glenn → say → opponent
Never will be happy with a loss.”
What’s working
The passing game.
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What → work → loss
The Geno Smith-led offense has shown it can put up points and get yards through the air.
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it → lead → air
Smith, who led the NFL with 17 interceptions last season in Las Vegas, has none through three games.
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who → lead → games
Glenn’s defense is second in the NFL in yards allowed per game.
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defense → allow → game
Aside from his fumble on the strip-sack that sealed the loss Sunday, Smith has been careful with the football while consistently moving it down the field even though New York has been short-handed at wide receiver because of injuries.
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York → seal → injuries
What needs help
The running game.
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needs → need → help
After gashing Tennessee for 152 yards on the ground, including 102 by Breece Hall, New York’s rushing attack has stalled.
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attack → gash → Hall
The Jets had just 67 against Green Bay and 58 vs. Detroit.
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Jets → have → Detroit
Hall has just 61 yards on 29 carries — 2.1 yards per carry — in the last two games and he left early Sunday with a thigh injury that could sideline him a few weeks.
uncertain
that → have → him
“That was one of the things that I said we have to have urgency of trying to make sure we get that done because that’s been a strong point of ours, especially after the first game,” Glenn said.
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Glenn → say → game
“And to have these two games where we didn’t run it as well, that’s something we have to dial into and make sure we get those things fixed.”
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things → have → it
The rookie first-rounder quickly has become a key part of the offense after missing most of training camp while recovering from hernia surgery.
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rounder → become → surgery
Sadiq had seven catches for 105 yards and his first touchdown reception against Detroit in a breakout performance.
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Sadiq → have → performance
He became the first Jets rookie tight end to have a rushing TD and a receiving TD in the same season.
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He → become → season
The 2024 first-round draft pick leads the NFL with four sacks allowed, according to TruMedia.
uncertain
pick → lead → TruMedia
Fashanu gave up three sacks and was called for holding against the Lions.
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Fashanu → give → Lions
He’s considered a building block for the offensive line, but his early season struggles have become something to watch.
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struggles → consider → line
Glenn had no immediate updates on Hall (thigh) or LG Dylan Parham (knee).
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Glenn → have → Hall
WR Garrett Wilson was cleared after being evaluated for a head injury late in the game.
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Wilson → clear → game
Key number
75.5% — Smith has the highest completion percentage — 77 of 102 passing — in Jets history through three games with at least 75 passes thrown.
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passes → throw → games
Next steps
The Jets play their third straight NFC North team when they take on the Bears next Sunday, looking to avoid a 1-3 start.
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asserted
they → play → start
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