Jets' recipe for shocking Bucs upset with Tyrod Taylor is simple

Justin Fields’ rough Week 2 got worse, as a late concussion in the loss to Buffalo will sideline him for Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving the New York Jets at 0-2 and scrambling for answers.

Enter Tyrod Taylor, the Jets’ backup quarterback since the start of the 2024 season. He hasn’t made a start with the team after Aaron Rodgers stayed healthy last year, but in his 15th NFL season, he brings ample experience across seven teams and 58 career starts.

Obviously, losing the starting quarterback you just paid up to $40 million for is a blow. He struggled mightily in his second start, going 3-for-11 for 27 yards with two fumbles, but the flashes he showed in Week 1 should still inspire confidence in what this Jets offense could become.

And those pieces around the quarterback? They're not too shabby either, even if they lack depth at skill positions, because Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and a steady offensive line leave a solid foundation.

So the Jets can earn their first win of the season, even without Fields, and with Taylor under center. The blueprint starts here.

How the Jets can win with Tyrod Taylor in Week 3

It starts with, of course, Taylor himself. He's not going to be asked to light up the stat sheet with 350 total yards, but to just keep the ball secure, make proper decisions, and manage the game like one would expect from someone as long tenured as him in the NFL.

It comes down to the most basic game-manager aspects, but executing those will keep the Jets in it against a competitive Buccaneers team that will run all over them if they turn the ball over. Between Baker Mayfield throwing to Mike Evans and company and a stout run game, Tampa Bay presents plenty of challenges.

The Jets also have to stay disciplined when it matters. Too often, penalties occur in critical third-down situations on both sides of the ball, killing their own drives or extending their opponent’s, including Michael Clemons’ costly flag last week.

This is more of a general tactic the Jets need to shore up, regardless of who’s under center, since penalties have been a problem under multiple regimes. Clean up the penalties, and things will change. Head coach Aaron Glenn has been preaching such.

It then shifts to the running game and protection. The offensive line has held up well through two weeks, giving Fields plenty of time in the pocket. Rookie tackle Armand Membou even stood out in Week 1 as one of the unit’s top performers.

Relying on the line to keep Taylor upright and open lanes for the run game will be critical. It’s reasonable to expect Hall and Braelon Allen to see an increased workload, particularly early on, and if the Jets get ahead and look to control the clock.

If the Jets can show the same discipline, balance, and steady quarterback play they had against Tampa Bay, this season might finally feel less like just surviving, and more like building the future fans have been waiting on.

More NY Jets news and analysis: