Jets believe they have found their identity, but the Lions will test whether it can survive

The Jets found an identity in Week 1.

The Packers showed how quickly it could disappear.

After running over Tennessee in their opener, the Jets managed just 49 rushing yards against Green Bay and blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead.

Sunday afternoon in Detroit, Aaron Glenn’s team faces a sharper test: Can it still play its brand of football when an opponent takes away the first option?

“Just formulating a plan in totality,” Glenn said Wednesday when asked how the Jets could score more points against the Lions. “This is how we want to play this game and (Chris) Banjo (special teams coordinator), you’re a huge part of that of we’ve got to make sure we flip the field when it comes to our punt team, when it comes to our punt returns. We’ve got to make sure that we put our offense in position to really score points.

“Defensively, we have to make sure we get off the field and try to get as many possessions to our offense as we can, and same for special teams also.”

Through two games, the Jets have averaged 326 yards and 20 points. That is a functioning offense, a meaningful improvement from last season. But Detroit has averaged 31 points per game, and the Jets may need more than a methodical ground game to keep pace.

They left points on the field in their 23-10 win over the Titans. Against the Packers, the offense stalled as Green Bay erased a 10-point lead. The Jets scored only three points after taking a 17-7 lead in the third quarter.

Green Bay held Breece Hall to 29 yards rushing, showing how quickly their preferred approach can fall apart.

“I want Breece to have 100 yards every game,” Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. “He did the first game and it wasn’t anything like six or seven yards per carry. It wasn’t prolific, but it was a good 100 yards.

“They did a good job against the run. Gotta give Green Bay credit.”

The Jets would like to establish Hall and use the run to create opportunities for Geno Smith. Sustained drives could also keep Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta off the field.

But Smith may have to do more if Detroit contains the run. He has protected the ball through two games after leading the NFL in interceptions last season.

Against the Lions, the Jets may need him to take more chances downfield. He has not thrown for 300 yards since Week 1 of 2025 when he was with the Raiders. The Jets have had only two 300-yard passing games since the start of the 2023 season.

Reich’s play-calling has also drawn scrutiny after a failed fourth-and-1 late against Green Bay. Hall was stopped short on third-and-2, then Braelon Allen was stuffed on a shotgun run on fourth down.

“The bottom line is I’m always going to call what I think is the best play in that moment,” Reich said. “And that’s what I did in the game. When it doesn’t work out, it’s, sure, you’re upset about it. You think, ‘Ah, maybe I should have called something else.’ You know what I mean? Because it didn’t work. But you’ve got to live with the results.

“I’m comfortable and confident in the calls that we called.”

The test also extends to the defense. Defensive tackle David Onyemata is on injured reserve, while safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and linebacker Kiko Mauigoa are hurt.

Since Glenn took over defensive play-calling duties, the Jets have attacked aggressively. Through two games, they rank first in total defense and second against both the run and pass. Detroit will test whether that approach holds up against a more explosive offense and with key defenders unavailable.

“I’ve been pretty happy with how the group has really approached and embraced our approach to every game,” defensive coordinator Brian Duker said. “I feel like we’ve gone in each game with an emphasis on what we want to get done.

“I feel like the guys have very much embraced the challenges that we’ve asked them to accept that week and how we need to play to win the game. I really, really appreciate that about the group.”

The Jets know how they want to play. They showed it against Tennessee. Green Bay showed what happens when that plan breaks down.

Detroit will show whether the Jets can adjust before another game slips away.