Jets-Payments Sport Preview | Striving for Greatness within the AFC East – New York Jets

Senior Reporter
The Jets (0-1) and the Payments (1-0) will meet Sunday at MetLife Stadium in Week 2 motion when the groups open divisional play. After their 34-32 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 1, the Jets rapidly shifted focus to their subsequent problem.
“I do suppose that we’ve got rattling good gamers on this group, and with the teaching workers, man, we’ll do every little thing we will to educate these guys as much as beat a very good opponent that is coming into our constructing,” mentioned HC Aaron Glenn.
Working to Be Constant
Whereas reigning MVP Josh Allen and the Payments yearly subject one of many NFL’s prime offenses, Justin Fields and the Jets offense have been an unknown getting into the 2025-26 season. They responded early and sometimes, scoring on their first 4 drives for the primary time in a season-opener since 1997, profitable the road of scrimmage whereas amassing 182 yards on the bottom and producing 11 explosive performs.
“We do not wish to be a flash within the pan the place we’re 32 [points] one week and 10 the subsequent week,” Glenn mentioned. “And I do know that occurs as a result of there are some good defenses out right here, however for probably the most half, we’re working to be constant on all ranges, in all three phases of this soccer group.”
The Payments have been a constant winner underneath HC Sean McDermott, claiming the previous 5 AFC East titles. They pulled a rabbit out of the hat final Sunday evening with an unbelievable 41-40 comeback victory over the Ravens. When Ok Josh Prater nailed a 32-yard FG as time expired, the Payments grew to become the primary group in NFL historical past down 15-plus factors down with underneath 4 minutes left to win in regulation.
Attempting to Be Good
However Sean McDermott despatched a message to his group with a padded apply to start out the week of preparation for the Jets.
“Full pads on a Wednesday after a 60-minute recreation the place we needed to play all 60 minutes,” mentioned star DT Ed Oliver. “It is a little bit difficult, it is making an attempt mentally to get your self again proper and you are still type of hurting. I do know lots of guys on the group are hurting nonetheless. You placed on the total pads, and also you go on the market and compete as a result of that is who we’re.”
Whereas Oliver (1 sack, 3 TFL and a pair of QBH) was excellent towards the Ravens, the Payments surrendered 432 yards of offense and a whopping 238 rush yards. After totaling 39 rush makes an attempt towards the Steelers and with Breece Hall main the cost with 19 carries for 107 yards, the Jets determine to problem the Payments early and sometimes on the bottom.
“Defensively, man, we actually obtained to be careful for Oliver, he is a disrupter, he is a penetrator,” Glenn mentioned. “They transfer him round fairly a bit. He is very athletic. He is an issue. Now we have to verify we be careful for him.”
Coming off considered one of his finest video games as a professional, Justin Fields, who had 3 whole TDs and related on 72.7% of his passes towards the Steelers, is trying to discover one other stage.
“We’re enjoying an imperfect recreation, however we’re making an attempt to be good,” Fields mentioned. “AG mentioned that to us on the market as we speak. We’re trying to be good, however all of us perceive that it isn’t essentially going to be like that. however that is what we’re striving for.”
After sacking Aaron Rodgers 4 instances and yielding 4 TD passes to the Steelers’ QB, the Jets will look to decelerate Allen. His outstanding fourth quarter — 251 move yards and three TDs — vs. the Ravens was one for the ages.
“Man, he is powerful, he is extremely aggressive, and he permits this offense to by no means be out of a play, if that is sensible,” Glenn mentioned. “Once I say that, as soon as he begins to maneuver round, he does a very good job of discovering guys. And I feel these guys do a very good job of understanding what he’ll do and the way he’ll react they usually react very well off him of discovering open lanes and issues like that for him to ship the ball.”
The Jets’ protection has Allen’s respect, and all of it begins with the entrance. Will McDonald IV, who had 2 sacks in Week 1, will match up with 4-time Professional Bowler LT Dion Dawkins whereas Jermaine Johnson will battle with Spencer Brown throughout the way in which. Quinnen Williams and former Payments DT Kyle Williams will look to break down the pocket from the inside and provides house for explosive LBs Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood to maintain RB James Cook dinner in test.
“They have some absolute studs on this protection,” Allen mentioned. “Clearly their entrance is actually stable — they get after the quarterback very well. And their back and front finish is working in unison proper now, so we’ll have our arms full. We solely have one recreation of tape, so we’ve got to belief our base guidelines and be ready for no matter they throw at us.”
If Allen does lengthen the play, CB Sauce Gardner, who may see lots of Keon Coleman after a powerful effort towards DK Metcalf, says the Jets’ DBs should keep on their assignments to stop the massive performs.
“If I obtained my man, I obtained my man,” Gardner mentioned mentioned. “As a result of I do know he is able to performing some loopy issues. When he is scrambling, he can throw throughout his physique and throw the ball 50-60 yards or additional. So, we simply obtained to be disciplined in protection and belief the entrance seven to do their factor like they did final week.”
See the Jets gamers at apply Wednesday forward of their Week 2 matchup with the Buffalo Payments at MetLife Stadium Sunday.
Wanting Ahead to the Problem
The Jets clearly have the Payments’ consideration. Sean McDermott, who’s led his membership to seven postseason journeys in eight years together with two AFC championship recreation appearances, mentioned “by all accounts” the Jets ought to have defeated the Steelers.
“You’ll be able to inform they’re making an attempt to revamp issues there and I respect that,” he mentioned. “It jogs my memory lots of our early years right here. There are good coaches actually good coaches on each side of the ball and particular groups and positively a gifted roster as effectively.”
If the Jets can journey up the Payments, they’re going to sq. their file earlier than heading to Florida for a two-game swing towards the Buccaneers and the Dolphins (on Monday evening, Sept. 29). It is one other early litmus for a younger group that’s establishing a typical and enjoying a bodily model of soccer. Glenn guarantees they’re going to be prepared.
“This shall be a very good problem for us, however I do know for a truth our guys are trying ahead to the problem,” he mentioned.
Aaron Glenn Begins His Head Teaching Profession vs. the Steelers on Sunday
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