Geno Smith just reminded Jets fans what competent quarterback play looks like

The New York Jets won their season opener on a Sunday for the first time since 2015 this past weekend, and it felt like the first of several positive things to come entering the 2026 season. First and foremost, the team may actually have a level of competency we haven't seen in some time.

From the professional offensive operation to Aaron Glenn's defense imposing its will on the Tennessee Titans offense, it was all Jets on Sunday, and it started with the confidence they were receiving from quarterback Geno Smith.

Smith, acquired this past offseason to bring stability to a Jets offense that desperately needed an adult at the quarterback position, did his job against the Titans. The veteran signal caller completed 19-of-24 pass attempts for 215 yards and no turnovers.

The Jets' former draft pick, who is looking to right the wrongs of years past, got off on the right foot in the regular season opener, and it's a sight for sore eyes for Jets fans, to say the least.

Geno Smith was everything the New York Jets wanted him to be in Week 1

Smith may have been the NFL's best passer in Week 1 (before Monday Night Football), according to the advanced statistics. The Jet Press's Justin Fried shared the veteran quarterback's Pro Football Focus numbers from Sunday's outing.

"Geno Smith’s 88.4 PFF passing grade is currently the HIGHEST among all NFL QBs in Week 1," Fried wrote in a post on X. "He didn’t take a single sack and was pressured just 6 times, the fewest of any starting QB this week.
His 84.6 overall PFF grade is 4th-highest among all NFL QBs so far in Week 1."

The Jets don't see quarterback play like that, and that's not hyperbole. Smith was at a level of efficiency in the season opener that they seldom witness in franchise history.

Jets X Factor's Michael Nania shared the entire list of Jets quarterbacks who have achieved 200+ passing yards, a 75%+ completion percentage, zero sacks, and zero interceptions, and it's not long. Ken O'Brien did this three times, Boomer Esiason once, Vinny Testaverde once, and Chad Pennington two times.

The Jets haven't exactly had an elite individual quarterback play in their franchise history, but it's safe to say Smith's performance on Sunday goes up in the annals of history as one of the best.

Hopefully, he can maintain that throughout the 2026 season. If he does, the Jets should be able to go blow for blow with any team they face this upcoming year.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow