Justin Fields may have played the best game of his career in Jets debut

When the New York Jets signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract this past March, they did so with the full knowledge that they were signing up for a 26-year-old project at the quarterback position.

Fields was brought in to serve as a bridge starter after the disappointment of the Aaron Rodgers era, but the Jets also made it clear he would be given every chance to prove he could be their long-term answer.

This Jets coaching staff believed they could construct a scheme and roster around Fields in a way that would not only maximize his strengths but also allow him to develop as a quarterback. The jury is still out on whether that will ultimately happen, but Week 1 offered an encouraging step in the right direction.

Fields put together what one could argue was the single best game of his NFL career to this point in the Jets' Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was an example of everything the Jets hoped to see from the Ohio State product entering his fifth year in the league.

Justin Fields was brilliant in the Jets' Week 1 loss to the Steelers

Fields finished the game 16-of-22 for 218 yards and a touchdown, while adding 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His 90.4 Pro Football Focus passing grade was the second-highest in the NFL this week and the highest of Fields' entire career.

That wasn’t the only career-best for Fields on Sunday. His 0.68 EPA per attempt was the best of his NFL career, while his 88.9 adjusted completion percentage ranked as the third-highest he’s ever recorded.

Fields' 0.49 EPA per dropback currently leads all quarterbacks in the NFL after one week. It's also the highest single-game mark by a Jets quarterback since Mike White's Week 12 performance in 2022.

In fact, that's also higher than any single game the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson, or Sam Darnold ever had in a Jets uniform. This was legitimately one of the best games by a Jets quarterback in years.

The bar for that is low, sure, but Fields' Week 1 performance was among the best by any quarterback this weekend. That's especially encouraging, seeing as it came against the vaunted Steelers defense.

The Jets were able to get the absolute best version of Fields. He was confident and poised in the pocket, extending plays with his legs, keeping his eyes downfield, and taking deep shots when presented with the opportunity.

Normally, those aspects of his game are paired with errant throws, bone-headed sacks, fumbles, or untimely interceptions, but the Jets managed to get the highs of Fields without the associated lows.

His ball placement on short and intermediate passes — normally a deficiency in his game — was also fantastic. This was one of the most accurate, in-control performances we've seen from a Jets quarterback in a long time.

Of course, this is just one game. It’s important not to overreact to Week 1 results, especially in the unpredictable, ever-changing landscape of the variable-laced NFL. Week-to-week sustainability is a crucial part of the NFL quarterback equation.

But as far as standalone performances go, this was one of the best Jets fans have witnessed in more than half a decade — and arguably the most impressive showing of Fields’ 45 career NFL starts.

That alone is reason to be encouraged about this Jets team moving forward, regardless of Sunday's result. If this is even 80% of the version of Justin Fields the Jets get this season, this team will win some football games.

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