Backups headline keys to victory for Jets over Bucs in Week 4

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but it’s been 14 years since the New York Jets last played in a postseason game. This 14-year playoff drought was not expected to end in 2025, but one would have liked to think that the Jets could play well enough to stay in the hunt deep into the season. Instead, the Jets are 0-2 and staring down the barrel of an 0-3 start, which would all but end any vapor of a hope for the playoffs.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. The Jets can beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, even without some critical starters. They just need to hit these three keys to victory.

1. It’s Tyrod Taylor time

With quarterback Justin Fields out after his concussion diagnosis, Tyrod Taylor will be getting the start under center in Week 3. While Taylor lacks the incredible athleticism of Fields, he’s been a steady, dependable veteran for most of his career. He can distribute the ball to wherever it needs to go, though he won’t likely make the splashy, exciting throws we saw from Fields in Week 1.

Taylor has faith that the Jets can defeat the undefeated Buccaneers, but he’ll need to be at his best. That means taking care of the ball and keeping the offense on track.

2. Defensive line has to step up

Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams already vowed that the Jets won't repeat their defensive clunker against the Bills. It’s a bold prediction considering that they’re traveling south to face the red-hot Bucs on the road, and they’ll be doing it now without Jermaine Johnson, who was ruled out for Sunday’s contest. Without Johnson, a defensive line that has disappointed thus far will be missing a lot of firepower.

Jermaine Johnson, Josh Reynolds, Kene Nwangwu and Jay Tufele have been ruled OUT for Sunday, per Aaron Glenn. #Jets

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 19, 2025

That means the Jets will need major contributions from the other starters and backups as well. If they let Baker Mayfield sit comfortably in the pocket, he will pick the Jets’ secondary apart with ease.

3. Coaching matters

Anytime a team gets blown out like the Jets did last week, there’s no shortage of blame to go around. Ultimately, however, it all comes back to coaching. A loss like that only happens when a coach doesn’t have his team ready to play. Rookie head coach Aaron Glenn is still looking for his first win, but it takes more than a talented roster to win in this league.

Obviously we don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors at MetLife Stadium, but one would hope that Glenn and his coaches did plenty of soul-searching this week and came up with a gameplan for the Bucs that will help their players win the game.

Final prediction: Jets win 20-17

I’ve picked the Jets to lose in each of their last two games, but now I’m feeling an underdog win coming for Gang Green. After a humiliating loss like last Sunday, these players and coaches have to be chomping at the bit for redemption, and I don’t think the Bucs will have the firepower to win this fist fight.

It won’t be a high-scoring game, however. With Fields out, this offense’s ceiling is limited. I expect Taylor to play a clean game while the running backs milk the clock, exhaust Tampa Bay’s defense, and lead the team to a narrow win on a walk-off field goal.