The first thing the Lions need to know about the Jets: Their 1-1 record is hiding something Detroit can’t ignore
New York hasn’t allowed an opponent to reach 200 yards yet, controls the clock better than anyone in football, and now gets its biggest test against Detroit.
The Detroit Lions need to turn the page on that Buffalo game once and for all. Week 3 brings the New York Jets to the schedule, and this matchup deserves attention for reasons that go beyond the surface. Here’s the first thing to know about the Jets: The Jets are 1-1 after a loss to the Packers on Sunday, but their defensive numbers through two games are staggering. This is a team built to drag opponents into ugly, low-scoring football, and the Lions need to be on their game.
The Jets defense has been suffocating
Here’s what stands out the most about New York through two weeks: across nine quarters, the Jets have allowed a total of 394 yards. No team has put up 200 yards of total offense against them yet. They gave up 195 yards and 10 points to Tennessee. They gave up 199 yards and 20 points to the Packers. That’s it. On top of that, the Jets are holding opponents to 5 for 21 on third down and have allowed just 131 rushing yards total. I think this defense is a lot better than a lot of people think it is.
New York is winning the time of possession battle
The Jets have possessed the ball for more than 76 minutes this season. Against the Packers, they held it for 37 minutes and 40 seconds, even though they lost. That’s exactly why Aaron Glenn said his team would take the ball first. You can understand why. The Jets’ offense had been holding the ball all day against Green Bay. They only scored 17 points, but they controlled the clock. Glenn’s decision to receive the ball in overtime instead of deferring was a risk. If it works, it works. In this case, it didn’t, and you could safely call it a mistake. But I get what he was going for.
The competition level is about to jump
Now, it’s fair to say the two teams the Jets have faced so far aren’t world-beaters. The Tennessee Titans picked in the top five in this year’s draft. They’re an up-and-coming team, but they’re not a squad you should fear or one that’s necessarily making the playoffs this year. That said, Tennessee did push the Eagles to the limit in a 24-20 loss. Then there are the Packers, who have not looked good this year. Jordan Love has been okay, but Green Bay has no run game. They were kind of lucky to win that game against the Jets.
In terms of running backs the Jets have faced, they’ve gone up against Kaleb Johnson, who just got traded to the Packers a couple of weeks ago after the Josh Jacobs legal situation, and Tony Pollard. Pollard was pretty good a few years ago and still has value, but neither of those guys are Jahmyr Gibbs. The Lions present the best offense the Jets have faced all year, and this will be New York’s first real test.
The Lions need to test whether this defense is for real
The transcript references Hard Knocks in 2022 and a speech about being the fish that drags its opponent into deep water. That idea fits the Jets right now. They can drag you into the deep water, and that’s where they win.
The Lions need to be ready for that. Offensively, the Jets aren’t there yet. They scored 17 against a Packers defense that had just given up 39 the week before, and they put up 23 on the Titans. They’re not putting up points in bunches. Detroit’s defense needs to show up, do its business, and protect the secondary as best it can. And the Lions’ offense needs to go out there and test this Jets defense to see if it’s for real. Because all we know about it right now is it seems like it is.
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