The New York Jets lost 31-24 to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, dropping to 1-2 on the season despite another competitive showing. Look, this Jets team has fought in all three weeks, and they probably should be 2-1 after letting that Packers game slip away. New York is proving it can go toe-to-toe with anybody in the NFL, and that should mean something in the long run. 

Still, the losses sting. However, there is obviously some good that needs to be taken away from them. In a day like today, there are more losers than winners for the New York Jets, but the signs of improvement are for sure there. 

Winners

QB Geno Smith

Geno Smith was outstanding. Smith completed 31 of 37 passes for 321 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The one bad fumble at the end hurt, but the man is doing everything he can for this team. He was sacked five times and still put up those numbers. I’ll get to the sacks later, but Smith is balling out right now. Credit to offensive coordinator Frank Reich as well for the game plan. He’s been impressive through three weeks.

Geno has given the Jets the best opening month of quarterback play that they’ve seen in awhile and it’s showing on offense. They are still missing some opportunities but they’ve shown that they can hit explosive plays and move the football. 

Jets Pass Catchers

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson hauled in 10 catches for over 100 yards and a touchdown. Rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq went over 100 yards with a touchdown of his own, and Jeremy Ruckert found the end zone too. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard also made a couple of nice plays, including an impressive 2-point conversion catch. Shepard looks like a solid signing and elevation for the Jets after Omar Cooper Jr. went down. It wasn’t a super productive day for Shepard overall, but the plays he made mattered.

The usage of tight ends has completely changed this offense as well, and it’s great to see. They did all of this without AD Mitchell as well.  

Losers

The Defense could not capitalize

New York gave up 31 points. The Jets couldn’t take away the football again this week, let up 131 yards on the ground at 4.5 yards per carry, and let Lions quarterback Jared Goff sit clean for most of the afternoon. They did get a couple of sacks, but the tackling was poor across the board. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs had that big touchdown run where he reversed field and looked like Barry Sanders.

The defense has shown they can be better. They have to continue to play like it.

The Run Game gets stifled again

Running back Breece Hall was taken out of the game late with a thigh injury and didn’t return. Hopefully the Jets get a positive update on his diagnosis. Even with Hall out there, the Jets managed just 19 carries for 58 yards, only three yards per carry. Geno Smith and the passing attack were doing everything they could, and the lack of a ground game hurt New York at critical points.

You can’t win consistently in this league when you’re that one-dimensional.

The offensive line is good on paper but hasn’t shown it the last two weeks

This is a good Jets offensive line on paper. They did not play like it today. Smith got sacked five times, and you have to know you don’t have the most mobile quarterback back there. Smith can extend plays, but he is past the prime of his lower-body ability, and the Jets let him get pummeled in the backfield. The offensive line’s struggles obviously fed into the run game problems too. 

When you can’t protect the passer or open holes for the backs, you’re fighting uphill all day.

Looking ahead

The Jets played another competitive game but let one slip away late against the Lions. At 1-2, New York has to bounce back next week in a winnable game against Chicago. The offensive line and the run game need to show up, and the defense has to start making plays on the ball.

The Bears are starting Tyson Bagent at quarterback tomorrow night against the Eagles due to injury. If Caleb Williams cannot go next week, the Jets should look to get back on track. It’s right there for the taking.