The New York Jets didn’t just lose on Sunday - they got steamrolled. In a 48-20 blowout at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Jets’ defense was nowhere to be found, and Trevor Lawrence took full advantage. The Jaguars quarterback accounted for six total touchdowns, slicing through New York’s depleted defense like it was a walkthrough.
For head coach Aaron Glenn - a defensive-minded leader brought in to stabilize this side of the ball - this one stung. And he didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Very disappointing on a number of levels,” Glenn said after the game.
There’s no mystery why. The Jets’ defense, once the backbone of this team, looked completely out of sync.
Glenn was asked postgame about defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and whether his system is working. Glenn’s response was pointed: “We brought Wilks in for a reason.
I want him to run his system.”
Translation: the plan is in place, but the execution - and maybe the personnel - just isn’t there right now.
The Jets rolled out undrafted rookie Brady Cook at quarterback, and to his credit, the Missouri product showed some fight. He connected with Adonai Mitchell for an early touchdown and kept things competitive through the first quarter.
But once the defense started leaking points, the game tilted fast. Cook was forced into high-risk throws trying to play catch-up, and that led to three interceptions.
Not ideal, but also not unexpected for a rookie thrust into a tough spot.
And let’s be honest - Cook wasn’t the reason the Jets lost. The defense simply couldn’t get off the field. Jacksonville did whatever it wanted, especially after halftime, and the scoreboard told the story.
This season was never about contending. With a rookie head coach, a stopgap quarterback in Justin Fields, and a roster in flux, the Jets were always going to be a long shot. But losses like this - lopsided, demoralizing, and increasingly frequent - make it clear how far this team still has to go.
The Jets made their intentions clear at the trade deadline, tearing down the core of their defense to stockpile future assets. That included moving on from stars like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams - two foundational pieces who, not coincidentally, were sorely missed against Jacksonville.
The return was solid: four premium draft picks and two players. But the short-term cost is obvious.
Without Gardner locking down the outside and Williams anchoring the interior, the Jets defense looked rudderless.
This is a team playing for 2026, whether they’ll admit it or not. The rebuild is fully underway, and Sundays like this are part of the growing pains.
There’s still talent on the roster, and the front office has positioned itself well for the future. But with the Patriots and Bills still on the schedule, the road to the offseason isn’t getting any easier.
Next up: a trip to New Orleans to face the Saints. The Jets will be looking to stop the bleeding - but with this defense, that’s easier said than done.