New York Jets

Our team assessment

Article cutoff 2026-10-06

Jets | 1-3

The Jets have taken care of the ball, giving it away only once in four games, but clean possession has not become dependable possession. Their weekly useful-play shares have swung from 48.3 to 33.8 to 50.8 to 40.6 percent. The defense has allowed useful progress on 47.0 percent of plays and 84 offensive points from only 17 threatening drives. Three of the team's four takeaways were defensive, with the other coming on special teams. None of that adds up to enough stops and sustained answers.

Geno Smith said “keep our defense off the field”. Sunday's 0-for-7 third-down showing and the 89-to-32 play imbalance against Chicago make that less a slogan than an urgent instruction. The two takeaways did not rescue an offense that produced just two long gains. Chicago's waste near the goal line kept the 23-12 result within reach longer than the possession gap justified. New York's 1-3 season needs more than another clean giveaway column. It needs reasons to keep the next possession.

After opponent punts or failed fourth downs, Jets possessions have begun at their own 21.9, on average, across 17 competitive drives. The weekly average has varied widely, from their own 1.0 to their own 27.3. The latest game averaged their own 1.0. The resulting possession started at midfield or closer to the end zone in 1 of those 17 cases. These are actual starting spots, including punt returns, rather than a measure of the defense alone. The return unit has added 31 punt-return yards over the season. Starts following turnovers are counted separately: 4 competitive possessions at their opponent 29.5 on average.

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