A Much Needed Jets Week of Calm

Look, I was not someone who had lofty expectations for the 2025 New York Jets in year one of the Aaron Glenn era. 

The Jets positioned what they believed about the bottom line of this particular season when they sent Aaron Rodgers, a future first ballot Hall Of Fame quarterback packing. 

Despite my lack of expectations for the 2025 group, the 0-7 start was far worse than I ever could have imagined. 

The Jets were not only winless going into their game against the Cincinnati Bengals, they looked as toxic and as dysfunctional as ever. 

Aaron Glenn’s team was sloppy, undisciplined and to make matters worse, Glenn’s defiance with the media specifically to the quarterback position was incredibly disheartening. 

For anyone who watched the Jets not score a touchdown for two weeks, it’s simply not going to sit well with you when your head coach mocks a question from a reporter regarding making a change at quarterback. 

Glenn, to his credit, realized his mistake the next day, but it’s the sort of in the moment stuff that has you reasonably questioning, “Hey, did we hire the wrong guy?” 

In addition to your head coach being under the microscope, how would it feel to be quarterback Justin Fields?

Not only were you benched last week after the dismal performances against the Broncos and Panthers respectively, you were criticized by the team’s owner to add insult to injury! 

Sunday started the way many Jets games have played out throughout this 2025 season. 

The team fell behind by two scores, defensively they had no answers for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and appeared destined to be an 0-8 team heading into their bye week. 

However, in the fourth quarter on Sunday, the Jets finally gave their fans something to feel good about. 

They rallied from two 14 point deficits and stunned the Bengals for their first win of the season. 

And what a concept, they scored a bunch of touchdowns! 

For a week, the Jets looked like a functional NFL offense in 2025. 

The much maligned Justin Fields put together one of his best games of the season. 

Look, does Fields’ performance mean anything long term? Of course not. I wouldn’t expect to see him in 3 years as your starting quarterback. 

However, considering I am a sucker for a redemption angle, it was a refreshing storyline for a guy who has been beaten up quite a bit over the past few weeks. 

Fields was a part of an offense that ran the football for over 250 yards. 

Rookie Mason Taylor stepped up with the biggest play of the game snagging the go ahead touchdown on a half back option pass. 

For a team that is in dire need of play makers, Taylor may actually pass the sniff test. 

Aaron Glenn had a good Sunday. 

His team played incredibly hard. He coached a good game, including proper 2 point strategy going for 2, down 14 which in 2025 is the precise way to handle the game. 

Sure, his defense gave up 30 plus points, but on the biggest series of the game following the Taylor touchdown, they found a way to get a stop. 

The Jets needed a week of decent vibes. 

Another loss and 0-8 record brings up a whole lot of doom and gloom. 

Will the Jets go winless? Will Aaron Glenn be a one and done coach? 

These would have been fair questions to ask after another loss. 

After a win, they silence quite a bit. 

The Jets have a lot of work to do, and I do not expect the rest 2025 season to be an enjoyable one. 

However, how can this coach and this team build upon what they did on Sunday? 

We’ll find out in two weeks. 

You can listen to my podcast New York, New York every Sunday & Thursday on The Ringer Podcast Network on Spotify/Apple Podcasts. You can watch me nightly on Honda Sports Nite at 11 PM on SNY.