6 takeaways as Jets choke away winnable Week 2 game vs. Packers

The New York Jets are back to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, as what was a 17-7 home lead against the Green Bay Packers ended up as a brutal 20-17 home loss that pushed the team to 1-1 in 2026.

Glenn's Jets didn't look as aggressive or dominant as they did in a Week 1 win against the Tennessee Titans, though the effort in totality showed that this is a respectable team who is improved from last season.

Jets fans need to recognize these takeaways as ironclad truth after a mixed, but still generally positive, start to the 2026 season.

6 takeaways after New York Jets' Week 2 loss to Packers

1. Aaron Glenn can't manage the clock

Glenn's biggest issue as a coach right now is his inability to manage the clock. This has been killer for the Jets' chances in games before this one, but the Green Bay game was perhaps his worst moment yet. Glenn got things started after getting the ball back with four minutes left in the second half and being so conservative that the team didn't even cross midfield before the end of the half.

Glenn had a pretty solid day against Green Bay without some of his most important defensive players, but after his odd decision to give Green Bay a shot at a free Hail Mary late in the fourth quarter, fans won't hold him in very high regard.

2. Frank Reich got too cute

It appears as though the quirky five-tight end look from the Titans game may have gone to Reich's head, as he did not cook up as effective a game plan in Week 2. Even without Micah Parsons on an already thin defensive line, the Jets were so inept at running the ball that Breece Hall didn't even average one yard per carry against this front midway through the third quarter.

Reich was missing rookie Omar Cooper Jr. in this game, but that's not an excuse. The offense looked fine without him against Tennessee, and no offense should be that discombobulated without a No. 30 pick in his second career game. The passing game picked up later, but that doesn't excuse all the missed opportunities in the first half.

If not for some solid Geno Smith plays, Reich could have been up for more criticism.

3. David Bailey is a solid player, even if he runs hot and cold

By smartly sniffing out a Jordan Love screen and bringing him down on the first play from scrimmage, Bailey became the first Jets rookie since Shaun Ellis in 2000 to record sacks in each of his first two career games. Bailey was also robbed of what could have been a game-changing fumble late in the second quarter right as the Packers were looking to pull away.

Bailey isn't wrecking games, and there have been some periods of inactivity to go along with his highs. However, for a rookie immediately tasked with becoming the most impactful pass rusher on the team's new-look defensive line, Bailey has done nearly everything that could be expected of someone in his position.

4. Azareye'h Thomas is thriving

The Jets put a ton of trust in Thomas by not choosing to spend a ton of money at outside cornerback in the offseason and roll with him as the starter. If Thomas can replicate how he played against Green Bay for the rest of the season, the Jets could end up feeling much better about the long-term health of the secondary.

Thomas not only broke up a pass on a big third down and managed to hold his own against a very talented Green Bay wide receiver room, but he has also proven his value as one of the better tacklers on the team. After years of working around Sauce Gardner's struggles in this area, Thomas looks like a genuine improvement in run defense.

5. The run defense is not elite

The Jets' defense wasn't really tested against the run when playing Tennessee, but their workmanlike crew of veterans like David Onyemata and Harrison Phillips did their job well enough. The Packers, even without Josh Jacobs and with a beat-up offensive line, had a much easier time moving the ball on the ground against this team.

Both MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson broke off some big plays, which was unexpected against a banged-up Packers offensive line. Hopefully, this team figures out where they went wrong before Jahmyr Gibbs makes his presence felt.

6. This team is much improved from 2025

It can be easy to wallow in sadness as the team blew a shot at going 2-0 against a very beatable opponent, but this squad is also leaps and bounds better than they were last season. Glenn is multiple galaxy-sized tiers better than Steve Wilks as a play-caller, and Smith has provided some of the best quarterback play this franchise has seen

The Jets are not going to win many games or emerge as a playoff team in all likelihood, but they are a solid squad that can put together a respectable effort against most teams in the league.

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