The Jets get their season underway on Sunday afternoon as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. New York will be a home underdog as it faces a team that went 10-7 and made the postseason in 2024.
Here are some of the biggest stories to watch as the Jets look to start the season on a positive note…
Can Armand Membou limit the damage from TJ Watt?
It’s a baptism by fire for Membou in his NFL debut, as he’ll be matched up with the man who, until this week’s Micah Parsons megadeal, was the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league: TJ Watt.
The 30-year-old is a seven-time Pro Bowler and always lines up on the left in a full-time role, so there will be no let-up for Membou. The Jets could look to give the rookie help by having a tight end on his outside shoulder to chip Watt and slow his get-off, but if the Jets were planning to give him help from the inside, then Tuesday’s injury to Alijah Vera-Tucker throws a wrench in the works.
Which quarterback will come out on top against his old team?
They say familiarity breeds contempt, but Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields have downplayed the importance of beating the team they played for last season in their first game with their new team. However, the reality is that both will be keen to make a strong first impression and show their old teammates what they’re missing.
This is actually the first such meeting between starting quarterbacks in NFL history and the Jets will be banking on Rodgers struggling in the first game of the season, as he has in each of the past four seasons. He was held under 200 passing yards in each game and had just one touchdown pass with four interceptions over those four Week 1 games.
Will the Jets play with discipline in Aaron Glenn’s first game in charge?
The Jets were one of the most penalized teams in the NFL last season, which is a trend head coach Aaron Glenn is keen to reverse. However, Glenn’s own defense in Detroit was the second most penalized in the NFL.
Penalties were an issue in camp and preseason, so the early signs are not good, but Glenn has vowed to hold players accountable. The Jets will need to maintain their focus to compete with a well-coached Steelers team.
Can Pittsburgh get the running game going?
The Jets ran the ball less than every other NFL team with Rodgers at the helm last season, but Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith typically favors a run-heavy approach. Will Rodgers and the Steelers lose faith in and abandon the running game if it’s not working, as the Jets often did last year?
Jaylen Warren will be Pittsburgh’s lead runner, but Kenneth Gainwell has typically produced well as a change-of-pace back. They’ll look to get going against a Jets front that struggled against the run at times last year, but will have been bolstered by the Harrison Phillips trade at the end of preseason.
Other than Membou, will any other Jets rookies play a key role?
Other than Membou, the Jets might not get much production from their rookie class early in the season. Edge Tyler Baron and linebacker Kiko Mauigoa could be inactive and defensive backs Malachi Moore and Azareye’h Thomas might not be ready to contribute much until later in the season.
It’s in the passing game where there could be a positive impact with tight end Mason Taylor, potentially having impressed enough during camp to earn a starting role and be significantly featured in the game plan.
The x-factor, though, could be wide receiver Arian Smith. The speedster is a big play threat who has worked hard at convincing the Jets that his issues with dropped passes are a thing of the past. Smith might not play much, but if he does, look for the Jets to get some chunk plays with him involved.
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