The Jets opened 2026 the right way, and now they get a Week 2 chance that comes with a little built-in comfort. After beating the Tennessee Titans to start the season 1-0, New York turns to the Green Bay Packers with Geno Smith carrying a matchup edge that jumps off the page.
Smith’s track record against Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is as clean as it gets. ESPN’s Rich Cimini noted that Smith is 4-0 against Gannon-coached defenses, with six touchdown passes and only two interceptions. That run came when Smith faced the Cardinals as the Seahawks’ quarterback, and it gives the Jets something tangible to lean on heading into Sunday.
Smith, according to Cimini, isn’t “putting any stock” in that history. Still, the numbers are hard to ignore, especially with the way New York looked in Week 1. Frank Reich appeared to settle in as a playcaller, and the offense has plenty of names that can stress a defense: Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Kenyon Sadiq, Adonai Mitchell, Mason Taylor, and a strong offensive line.
The Packers come in with plenty of respect around the league, but they’re also dealing with Micah Parsons being out and some real uncertainty in the cornerback room. That doesn’t guarantee anything for the Jets, but it does make this a game where New York has a clearer path than most people might expect.
Green Bay’s defense is still solid enough to challenge most offenses, and Week 1 showed that much. But after Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings put up 39 points on them, there’s at least a case to be made that Smith and the Jets can move the ball and make this one interesting.
The Jets have already shown enough to spark some optimism. With Smith’s history against Gannon in their back pocket, Week 2 suddenly looks like a real upset opportunity.
In Other News...
Jets Collapse Sparks Ugly Questions About Late-Game Decisions
The Jets had the game where they wanted it late against the Packers, with a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and a chance to finish it off. Instead, the final stretch turned into a sequence of missed chances and second-guessing, starting with an inability to capitalize on a turnover and then a fourth-down call that immediately drew attention as the momentum slipped away.
Aaron Glenns overtime coin toss decision added another layer to the aftermath, but the play that helped swing it most was Jarvis Brownlees costly penalty, which moved Green Bay into field-goal range. The Packers closed by scoring the final 13 points, ending the night with the winning kick in overtime and leaving the Jets to sort through a collapse that will linger for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Defense Faces One Risk Aaron Glenn Cannot Ignore
Minnesotas defense made life miserable for Jordan Love in Week 1, getting home four times and helping turn a rough start into a comeback win over Green Bay. The performance offered a useful blueprint for the Jets, who have enough talent up front to pressure Love without having to lean heavily on the blitz, a path that fits what Aaron Glenn wants to build on that side of the ball.
The catch is that Love has already shown he can make defenses pay when they overcommit, piling up 387 yards and two touchdowns against blitz looks despite the heat. That puts extra importance on New Yorks front four doing the heavy lifting, and it also makes Will McDonalds availability worth watching after his recent ankle injury, since the edge rush is a key part of how the Jets can try to control the Packers without opening themselves up elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Jets May Finally Be Fixing An Offensive Problem Fans Know Too Well
The Jets have spent years living with one of the NFLs most unreliable tight end rooms, a spot that rarely gave the offense much in the way of receptions, yards, or touchdowns. From 2016 through 2025, the position has been a persistent sore spot, one that never quite turned into the kind of steady middle-of-the-field threat good offenses lean on.
Now theres at least a sign the team is trying to change that. With new offensive coordinator Frank Reich in place, the Jets have made a real push to invest in tight ends, headlined by first-round pick Sadiq and backed by additions like Taylor, Ruckert and Jelani Woods. It does not guarantee the problem is solved, but it does suggest the Jets are finally treating a long-standing weakness like something worth fixing. [Read more 🡒]