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Football is America's preferred way to spend its Sundays. No sport captures as much of the nation's attention and holds such cultural power. And yet, for the New York Jets, it exists more as a special brand of torture than an autumn pastime.
The Jets are 0-7 after hitting the reset button. One former quarterback has emerged as an MVP candidate. Another is on track to win the AFC North. And as things go from bad to worse, the one feeling holding the fanbase together is that things won't get better anytime soon.
Win some, lose most, reset, repeat. With the longest playoff drought in major American sports and a permanent place at the butt of media jokes, the sky is already falling in East Rutherford. An optimistic outlook would be a delusional one, but that doesn't mean New York hasn't given fans some things to be excited about.
The bright spots are few and far between, but they're all the Jets faithful have through seven weeks of action.
The core is here (and wants to be)
Head coach Aaron Glenn's first months on the job have gone poorly, and despite the goodwill earned from his days in New York's secondary, he hasn't done much to earn the fanbase's trust.
One of the few things going for him, though, is that the team hasn't quit. His defense has overcome early-season struggles to hold opponents to 13 points in back-to-back weeks. Postgame pressers have been sad, but not mutinous, and several teams offer uglier vibes each week.
More importantly, the most important players on this roster are trusting the process and are here for the long haul. Cornerback Sauce Gardner and receiver Garrett Wilson are signed through 2030 and look like superstars in the early going. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams remains an esteemed leader, and first-round rookie Armand Membou is getting his hands dirty fighting for his quarterback after the whistle. His partner in crime, Olu Fashanu, continues to flash.
It would be easy for edge rusher (and resident tone setter) Jermaine Johnson II to make cryptic posts on social media or express interest in a trade during the final year of his rookie contract. Instead, he's leaving expletive-laden movie clips on Twitter to assure fans that he's not leaving.
Without a quarterback, promising the playoffs is fruitless. But key pieces of the next exciting Jets team are already in the building, and it's clear that this isn't a hopeless roster that a franchise passer can't save.
Tanner Engstrand is the right man for the job
It is entirely possible that New York hits the reset button after a dismal Year 1. However, if Glenn's regime returns for 2026, Engstrand must not be the sacrificial lamb.
Nobody is without blame for this catastrophic start. The Jets' offensive struggles, though, are more tied to Justin Fields not hitting open receivers than a lack of open targets. He could benefit from leaning on the run a bit more and treating Fields more like the 2022 version of himself that saw 160 carries (should he return to the starting lineup). Even so, Engstrand has done a better job than his defensive counterpart.
MORE: Jets' Justin Fields responds to owner Woody Johnson's comments
The biggest difference between New York's Week 1 explosion and its subsequent stumbles has been execution. Armed with one starting-level receiver and a quarterback whom owner Woody Johnson suggests cannot complete a pass, it's no surprise the Jets haven't found the end zone.
That isn't Engstrand's cross to bear, nor should it discourage fans about the potential for a rookie passer to find success under his tutelage.
Special teams is finally not an issue
The Jets have had some gaffes on kick returns, but one of the brightest spots from the first half of the season has been the performance of its special teams. The soon-to-be 41-year-old kicker is yet to miss a field goal or extra point, forcing fans to wonder if Robert Saleh would still have his old job if Folk was in the building last year.
More importantly, New York has found its punter of the future.
Austin McNamara passes the eye test, and Pro Football Focus's charting backs up the hype. He currently ranks sixth in net yards per punt (44.6), second in PFF's punt grade (88.9), ninth in yards per return (6.3), and first in average hang time (4.76 seconds).
Winning the field position game is perhaps the biggest reason why New York isn't being blown out each week, and while it won't show up in the box score, McNamara's impact is all but locking in a spot on next year's roster.
Things are going very well when a punter is highlighted as a bright spot. That's not McNamara's problem. He's been excellent, and if the Jets are eventually competent, fans will grow thankful that special teams isn't costing them games.
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