A preview of the Jets-Packers Week 2 game at MetLife Stadium:
Key Matchup
Jets coach Aaron Glenn vs. Packers QB Jordan Love
The Jets are entering an intriguing part of their schedule, playing NFC North teams for three weeks in a row. For Glenn, this brings some familiarity since he was the defensive coordinator for the Lions from 2021 to 2024.
During his tenure, Love faced the Jets four times. The results weren’t great for Love, as the Packers won only once, and he didn’t throw for more than 300 yards in any of those matchups.
One game was particularly rough for him, with five sacks and two interceptions. However, he managed to throw three touchdowns in the one victory against Glenn’s defense.
Now, Love has a bit more experience under his belt, coming off a 387-yard performance against the Vikings.
In that game, he was pressured a lot, getting hit 15 times and sacked four times as the Vikings’ defensive strategy focused heavily on blitzing.
Glenn has high praise for the quarterback he’s set to face this Sunday. He emphasized Love’s impressive arm talent and his ability to throw from various angles. “You can see it on tape; his arm strength and ability to escape the pocket to launch deep passes is notable,” Glenn mentioned, also highlighting Love’s unique ability to throw accurately while on the run.
Four Insights
Using Tight Ends Effectively: The Jets have continually drafted tight ends high in the past couple of drafts, so their usage of multiple tight end formations shouldn’t come as a surprise. In fact, last week against the Titans, they used multiple tight ends in 27 out of 63 plays
The game’s first touchdown came from a handoff to tight end Kenyon Sadiq, alongside blocks from fellow tight ends Mason Taylor and Jeremy Ruckert.
A highlight occurred in the third quarter when the Jets fielded all five of their tight ends, showing their creative offensive strategy. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich remarked that although he wasn’t actively searching for innovative formations, he was surprised to find no evidence of similar setups in 20 years of data.
Missing Key Player: Last season, the Packers made headlines trading for Micah Parsons, and he had a strong start until he tore his ACL in December against the Broncos. That injury led to a disappointing end to their season, marking a string of six losses, including one against the Bears in the playoffs.
In their latest game, the Packers lost again after leading the Vikings 22-10, showcasing a troubling trend of second-half collapses that the Jets aim to exploit.
Familiar Faces: Glenn and Love aren’t the only ones with past connections in this matchup. Jets quarterback Geno Smith has faced Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon several times when they were part of the NFC West. Smith secured a perfect 4-0 record against Gannon’s defenses, throwing six touchdowns and only two interceptions.
However, Smith doesn’t feel the need to dwell on those past matchups. “This game is all that matters,” he affirmed. “Coach Gannon has a solid history and will have his players ready, so we just need to execute our game plan.”
Sticking with Sanders: Jason Sanders will remain the Jets’ kicker this week. His debut against the Titans was quite a mix; he missed a 54-yard attempt but nailed field goals from 33, 51, and 52 yards.
Glenn commented on Sanders’ resilience, highlighting how he rebounded from the miss to score two impressive kicks. “We have a team that has faced adversity, and I admire how he handled the pressure,” Glenn said.
Final Thoughts
The Jets are feeling confident after their win against the Titans. They played well, but this matchup is a step up, with the Packers being a solid and hungry team. I think the Jets will find ways to score, but slowing down Jordan Love could prove challenging.
Packers 31, Jets 27
