Usually, a 0-3 start in the NFL is the kiss of death.
But Aaron Glenn is still optimistic the Jets can turn their season around following Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers.
“There are some things defensively that we have to do a better job of and I understand that,” Glenn said on Monday morning. “But we’re going to go to work this week and again, try and fix some of those things that we are having issues with and try and move forward.
“Listen, I am not shaken by this at all, I have a ton of confidence in the guys that we have. I have a ton of confidence in the coaches that we have. But I do know this man, we are in a race to improve, alright, and we have to do a good job of that.”
The Jets are one of six teams (Giants, Dolphins, Texans, Saints, and Titans) who are winless entering Week 4. Although there are still 14 games left in the season, the road to reaching the postseason will not be an easy one for the Jets or any of the winless teams.
Since the NFL expanded its schedule to 17 games in 2021, no team has lost its first three games and rebounded to make the postseason. During that span, only two teams, the 2021 Colts and the 2024 Bengals, finished with a winning record, but neither qualified for the postseason.
Following the Jets’ heartbreaking 29-27 loss to the Buccaneers, Glenn said they are not the ‘same old Jets’ despite starting 0-3 for the third time in the last six seasons. Glenn is also the third consecutive Jets new coach to begin their tenure with three straight losses, joining Robert Saleh (2021) and Adam Gase (2019). Lou Holtz also began his only season as Jets coach 0-3.
Until proven otherwise, many are going to believe they are the ‘same old Jets.’ They have registered nine consecutive losing seasons and have a 14-year playoff drought, which is not only the longest in the NFL, but it is the longest in North American sports.
“There is no balance in it,” Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson said. “Like, no, you are 0-3, it is an uphill battle as far as where we are at.
“With that said, it is still early, and the same thing with that game like, ‘Alright, y’all, we finished strong, but how do we keep ourselves out of that spot.’ Back to what I spoke on before, I have a big part in that and the offensive side of the ball we’re going to fix things.”
The Jets have had their opportunities to claim victory in two of their first three games. But late-game winning field goals sealed their fate in games against the Steelers and Buccaneers.
The Steelers defeated the Jets in Week 1 after Chris Boswell nailed a 60-yard field goal with less than two minutes left. Then on Sunday, Glenn was less than two minutes from his first victory as Jets coach.
The Jets erased a 17-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter. They took a 27-26 lead after Will McDonald‘s blocked field goal and 50-yard return for a touchdown with 1:49 remaining in the game. However, Baker Mayfield led Tampa Bay 48 yards down the field in seven plays.
Gang Green has one of the worst defenses in the NFL after the first three weeks. They are 22nd in yards (340.3) and 30th in points allowed (31). Tackling has been a problem for the Jets after they have failed to bring down ballcarriers in ill-advised moments. Against the Buccaneers, the Jets defense registered just one sack and two quarterback hits despite Tampa Bay facing an offensive line missing three starters.
“It comes back to emphasizing that, and you can always improve in those things, that’s why you practice,” Glenn said. “Listen, I’m not saying that you go out there and you practice tackling at this point of the season, but you make sure that every guy gets in position to try and do that.
“There is a ton of things that every coach in this league is trying to emphasize, and we hope that every game comes out to where those things show up, but the thing is you go back to work, you emphasize those things, and you do everything you can to get yourself in positions to where you can actually operate the right way.”
