Last week the New York Jets opened the 2026 season on the road with a thorough thrashing of the Tennessee Titans. Today the Jets look to keep the winning ways going in their home opener as they face off against the Green Bay Packers. Kickoff is scheduled for shortly after 1 PM in a rainy MetLife Stadium.
Nearly everything went right for the Jets last week. They played turnover free football and forced a Titans turnover. That resulted in the first time the Jets have won the turnover battle since November
30, 2025, and only the third time since the 2024 season. The Jets pass rush harassed Titans quarterback Cam Ward all day. The Jets front seven shut down the Titans running game. Geno Smith was efficient and effective passing the ball. Breece Hall rushed for more than 100 yards as the Jets offensive line dominated. Special teams, other than a Jason Sanders shanked kick, were outstanding. It was a complete win in all phases of the game.
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Now things get tougher. The Jets were fortunate to open the 2026 season against a Titans team that is expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. Today they up the ante against a Packers team that is expected to challenge for a playoff spot, as usual.
The Packers opened the 2026 season with a thud. They were beaten by the Minnesota Vikings, 39 – 22. It was an odd game, as the Packers seemed in control much of the game. More than halfway through the fourth quarter the Packers led 22 – 17, only to collapse over the last seven minutes of the game. The Vikings closed with 22 unanswered points as the Packers offense unraveled under intense pressure from the Vikings defense. The Vikings blitzed Packers quarterback Jordan Love relentlessly (70+ % of passing downs!), eventually leading to game changing sacks and turnovers that turned what looked like a comfortable Packers win into a double digit Packers loss. The Packers’ 419 total yards on offense nearly doubled the Vikings’ 239 yards offensive output, but the Vikings won the only battle that counts, the final score. The Jets will hope to duplicate the pressure the Vikings got on Jordan Love, though the Jets defensive scheme and personnel make that somewhat difficult.
This game will likely be a much more formidable challenge for the Jets than the Titans were last week. Jordan Love is no Cam Ward, and the Packers have multiple weapons in the passing game that have the potential to give a suspect Jets secondary fits. The Jets are not without hope, however. A strong Jets running game could keep the Packers offense off the field, and a weak Packers offensive line and running game may open up opportunities for the Jets front seven to pressure Jordan Love and create some turnovers. If Geno Smith can manage another mistake free game perhaps the Jets can get to 2-0 on the season for the first time since 2015. Wouldn’t that be nice?
It’s the Jets and the Packers in game 2 of the 2026 season. Enjoy the game everyone.
