4 winners (and 4 losers) from Jets' disappointing Week 2 defeat vs. Packers

The New York Jets were one quarter away from a 2-0 start to the 2026 season, but Aaron Glenn let a 17-7 lead slip before a 20-17 loss sent the Jets down to 1-1 on the year.

It may be quite easy to get depressed after this team blew a winnable chance to go 2-0 on the year, but there are plenty of players who have shown they can be a part of the winning solution.

There are four Jets in particular who stood out, even as four of them running mates managed to stink it up as they let a beatable Green Bay team off the hook.

4 winners and 4 losers from Jets' tough Week 2 loss to Packers

Loser: Aaron Glenn (the time manager)

Glenn continues to look wholly subpar at controlling the tempo of the game. Not only did he fail to even cross midfield after getting the ball back with four minutes to go in the first half, but he also gave the Packers a free shot at a Hail Mary at the end of regulation by not calling a timeout after getting to fourth down.

Glenn had his team ready to play, but his clock errors remain baffling.

Winner: Aaron Glenn (the defensive play-caller)

Glenn took a risk saying defensive play-calling was his "superpower," but he's backed that talk up so far.

Glenn and the Jets held the Packers hold Love and the Packers to 20 points and under 200 total yards. After two games under Steve Wilks, the Jets allowed 64 points in two losses.

With Glenn looking over the defense, the Jets have surrendered just 30 points in two games, seven of which came in garbage time during a Week 1 domination of the Titans. The talent is better, but Glenn has this unit looking much more cohesive than they ever did under Wilks.

Loser: Frank Reich

Reich may not be the locked-in offensive whiz he appeared to be in Week 1. Reich was unable to get the run game started for most of the game, and it took until the second half for the passing game to wake up.

Reich needs to get back to his 12-personnel bread and butter, as relying on 11-personnel without Omar Cooper Jr. was an odd call.

Winner: Demario Davis

Part of why the Jets look more organized on defense is having Davis locked in as a veteran defensive leader. Even at age 37, Davis may be the best overall player on the Jets' roster.

Davis has been all over the field, and his presence has contributed to the Jets' improved tackling in the open field.

Loser: Mason Taylor

Taylor went from someone who could be one of the top receiving options on the team to someone with fewer receiving yards than anyone reading this article.

Taylor has -2 yards receiving this year and didn't record a catch against Green Bay. Kenyon Sadiq has seemingly usurped him as the top tight end on the depth chart, and Taylor has not shown enough as a pass-catcher.

Winner: Adonai Mitchell

Mitchell appears to be making good on his offseason hype, even though he hasn't been reeling off any deep chunk plays. Mitchell caught six of his 12 targets for a team-best 63 yards and was the go-to target on many "got-to-have-it" third downs.

Mitchell hasn't put up the gaudiest numbers, but he has looked the part as a No. 2 wide receiver.

Loser: The veteran run-stuffing DTs

The Josh Jacobs-less Packers ran on the Jets far easier than a team that added David Onyemata and T'Vondre Sweat to their defensive line should. 18 carries for 63 yards doesn't sound that bad, but many of those timely runs came on Green Bay's two touchdown drives.

If Lloyd and Johnson broke through, Jahmyr Gibbs may not find this front too tough to stop.

Winner: Azareye'h Thomas

Thomas is starting to blossom into the team's best cornerback. With Brandon Stephens not locking receivers down and D'Angelo Ponds on the mend, Thomas allowing one catch for -1 yard might make him the Jets' defensive MVP of the game.

Thomas made a few very impressive run stops and broke up a pass. Even his penalty may have been an underthrown deep ball rather than a poor play on his part. In just his seventh career start, Thomas had perhaps the best game of his career.

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