The Jets are walking into a tough Week 3 assignment in Detroit, but there are real openings if they know where to press. The Lions are 1-1 like New York, yet the betting and national chatter are leaning heavily toward Detroit. Still, there’s enough on the tape to suggest Aaron Glenn’s team can make this interesting.
Candace Pedraza, the lead editor at SideLion Report, pointed to three areas where the Jets can attack the Lions: a shaky secondary, an offensive line with questions, and the emotional edge that comes with Glenn’s return to Detroit.
The first crack is in the back end. Detroit’s secondary has been hit by injuries and, outside former Jets cornerback D.J.
Reed, doesn’t have much proven depth. Pedraza described the group as being held together by “Elmer’s glue and Scotch tape,” with multiple players being pushed into bigger roles than the Lions would prefer.
That gives New York a chance to create some plays downfield for Garrett Wilson, especially if Detroit still can’t generate enough pressure up front.
There’s trouble in front of Jared Goff, too. The Lions’ offensive line has been dealing with injuries and constant shuffling, even with rookie right tackle Blake Miller and left guard Christian Mahogany back at practice this week.
Pedraza said the Jets’ front should be able to make life difficult, noting, "They struggled to contain Buffalo’s defensive line in Week 2, and I’d argue New York’s is slightly stronger.” That puts the spotlight on David Bailey, Will McDonald, and the rest of the Jets’ pass rush.
The third factor is less about scheme and more about emotion. Glenn’s return to Detroit adds a different kind of energy to the matchup, and Pedraza believes that familiarity with former coach could backfire if Lions players try too hard to make a statement.
Aidan Hutchinson made the tone clear when he said, "I got a lot of respect for [Glenn], a ton. Definitely still trying to kick his ass on Sunday.”
That emotional edge could spill into mistakes, and both teams have already shown a habit of getting flagged. The Jets have 21 penalties, second-most in the NFL, while the Lions have 18, which ranks fifth. If New York stays cleaner and can push Detroit into overdoing it, that could swing the game.
The numbers suggest there’s room for the Jets to attack. Detroit’s defense has been one of the league’s worst through two games, ranking 31st in total defense at 457.5 yards allowed per game, 31st in pass defense at 310.5, and 31st in scoring defense at 35.5. The Lions gave up 469 total yards to the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, then 446 to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2.
That kind of production has opened the door for big passing plays, and New York should see chances for Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Geno Smith. Up front, the Jets also need to make Goff uncomfortable.
Detroit allowed 20 pressures against Buffalo, with right tackle Larry Borom taking the brunt of it. If Miller returns to that spot, it would help, but the line still has cracks.
For New York, the formula is straightforward: win at the line of scrimmage, hit Detroit’s vulnerable secondary, and don’t get dragged into the emotional side of the matchup. If the Jets can do that, they’ll give themselves a real shot in Week 3.
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