Jets Week 3 Reaction: They fought real hard, Marge

The New York J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS are now O-N-E A-N-D T-W-O TWO TWO TWO!

This is definitely not the 3-0 start I predicted in 2026 Jets Preview: Schedule Breakdown and Predictions. But it honestly isn't that far off. I was confident the Jets would take care of the Titans, and thought they would pull out 2 close games vs Green Bay and Detroit. The last 2 games were certainly close, but both times the Jets were on the wrong side of it.

I already lamented how the Jets lost last week in Jets Week 2 Reaction: It is the hope that kills you over and over and over again. This week's loss feels less devastating.

I did not get the chance to write a Week 3 preview this week as I was busy not even placing in my company's hackathon (I made the mistake of making 2 simple applications that will have real users and solved problems in a straightforward manner, which is functionally useful but not exactly something that excites judges). However, if I decided to dedicate that lost time to writing a preview, I would have shared my feelings that I was expecting a ho-hum multi-score loss for the Jets.

It had all the ingredients of a loss. The Jets coming off a grueling OT loss in a game they really should have won. The Lions, coming off a loss themselves, but with extra rest having played the previous Thursday Night Football game. This is also a particularly bad matchup for the Jets. A Lions team that has short, mid, and deep passing threats and a solid offensive line. I was expecting a minimum of 5 scoring drives for the Lions, and I wasn't sure the Jets could match that given their offensive struggles vs the Packers.

Given these somewhat muted expectations, I think the 31-24 loss today was an okay outcome, albeit with a few injury concerns. Would I have liked them to win? Absolutely. But there are some positive things to take away.

First - Kenyon Sadiq. The rookie first round tight end had 7 catches on 8 targets for 105 yards and a touchdown. He had an amazing diving touchdown catch for the game's first touchdown and had a 43-yard catch-and-run in the second half to keep the Jets in striking distance. It's early, but if he stays healthy, he has the potential to be a top receiving tight end.

Second - Garrett Wilson. Wilson had to 1-up Sadiq with 10 catches on 13 targets for 107 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown was yet another example of his ability to make contested catches. It is so refreshing to see him have a competent QB that can get him the ball. Wilson unfortunately got hit in the head on the final drive (which drew no penalty by the way), but he was thankfully cleared of a concussion after the game.

Third - Speaking of competent QB play - Geno Smith. Even with a slow start for the offense, Geno finished with 31 of 37 for 321 yards and 3 TDs. I thought he did just about everything you could ask of him. He took a few sacks, including the game-losing strip-sack, but I won't pin those all on him. There were some jailbreaks and bad offensive pass blocking. He also was without his number 2 WR Adonai Mitchell, which matters not necessarily because Mitchell is a great receiver, but because the Jets' receiving depth beyond him is not good.

Despite all these bright spots, the Jets lost. This largely falls on the defense's inability to get off the field. Gibbs was running wild (99 rushing yards, 65 receiving yards and three total touchdowns), both on designed runs (with the help of Penei Sewell holding on the edge) and short passing routes. The Jets D got off to an okay start, and got a key stop late down 24-16 on 4th down to give the Jets a chance to come back. But it was not a good enough showing. The Jets offense is average to below average, and they just aren't going to be able to put up 31 points most weeks (though they came close this week). I will withhold larger criticism because I think the Jets D had been great the first 2 games, and the Lions put up 31 points on the Bills and Saints defenses as well. I think they will bounce back in a big way next week vs a Caleb Williams-less Bears.

If I wanted to, I could spin this loss as a "Same Old Jets" kind of loss. They had several moments of giving you hope, taking it away, gaining it back, losing it, regaining a glimpse, and then ultimately letting go. They went up 7-3 in the second quarter after a drive that frankly looked too easy. They then went down 24-10, with the game looking like it was on the verge of a blowout. But they fought back. They scored the next drive to get it to 24-16, after failing to get the first of 2 two point conversion attempts. Even after that, the D got a timely stop, and the Jets went down the field, scored, AND got the two point conversion to tie it up. The Lions then followed that up with a quick scoring drive of their own with just over 2 minutes left in the game to go up 31-24. The Jets managed to drive down the field, before the aforementioned Garrett Wilson hit in the helmet and Geno Smith sack ended their chances. I also forgot to mention Breece Hall got hurt. He left with a thigh injury and said he will probably get an MRI, so we will see where that goes. The run game was non-existent for the Jets today, but also, the passing game made up for that.

But, I'm going to look on the bright side. They exceeded my expectations for this game and showed some real promise. Next week they get a Bears team that will be playing a backup QB and coming off short rest from a Monday Night Football game. I like their chances.

Did the Jets win today? No. But as I said in my family group chat - they fought real hard, Marge.