Jets already feeling the sting of Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams trades on TNF

The NY Jets may have picked up a win in their first game after parting ways with All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner and star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, but Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks realized that not every team is going to roll out Dillon Gabriel, start the league's worst offensive line, and hand you two special teams touchdowns.

The Jets were facing Drake Maye and the mighty New England Patriots without those two superstars. In addition, new starting cornerback Azareye'h Thomas was out with a concussion. In addition, defensive linemen Harrison Phillips and Will McDonald are playing through foot and quad injuries, respectively.

Despite scoring a touchdown on the opening drive, the Jets lost all their momentum. Maye didn't throw his first incompletion until there were four minutes remaining in the second quarter, and rookie running back Tre'Veyon Henderson scored a pair of touchdowns to put New England up 14-7.

Henderson made a fool of Micheal Clemons, who has a bigger role tonight due to McDonald's injury, by juking him in the open field and plunging into the end zone. Maye has barely been challenged all night, showing how far away the Jets are from competing with New England.

Jets struggling on defense vs. Patriots without Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams

The only proven way to make Maye sweat a little bit is to get in his face with pressure. With Clemons, Phillips, Tyler Baron, and Jowon Briggs rushing on some plays, only Jermaine Johnson and a limited McDonald even have a prayer of getting close to Maye.

The run defense is losing one of the best performers the league has to offer in Williams. Briggs and Phillips are great in this area, but they can't equal what No. 95 brought to the table. As a result, Henderson hasn't been shown much resistance from an undermanned Jets defensive line.

The secondary is falling apart with Qwan'tez Stiggers and Tony Adams starting in place of Thomas and Andre Cisco. Both Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs have not encountered very many troubles when it comes to getting open against Wilks' backups.

The Jets clearly aren't trying to make a playoff run this season, but with the already subpar defense looking suspect against a superior opponent without those two difference-makers in the lineup, it shows how far this team has to go before they can be taken seriously as a threat in the AFC East.