Jets Seek to Close Gap After Another Frustrating Loss

DETROIT — Head coach Aaron Glenn expressed frustration following the New York Jets' 31-24 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field, emphasizing that his team is close to achieving victory but must still close a discernible gap.

"We're right here," Glenn said, holding his index finger and thumb about an inch apart. "Our guys know there's a gap we have to close, and we're fighting our asses off to close it — from a coaching perspective and a player perspective."

A year after finishing with a 3-14 record, the Jets now stand at 1-2 for the season. They could have been 2-1 or even 3-0, but close calls have not translated into wins.

Last week, the Jets lost to the Green Bay Packers in overtime after squandering a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. Sunday's game against the Lions, coached by Glenn's former mentor Dan Campbell, followed a similar pattern of agonizingly close results.

Several Jets players delivered strong performances against Detroit. Quarterback Geno Smith completed 31 of 37 passes for 321 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson made crucial catches, including a 23-yard reception that tied the game at 24-24 with just over four minutes remaining. He finished with a game-high 10 receptions for 107 yards.

Rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq had a breakout game, recording seven catches for 105 yards and his first career touchdown. Tight end Jeremy Ruckert also contributed significantly with five receptions, including a touchdown that narrowed the Lions' lead to 24-16 in the fourth quarter.

The Jets defense, which entered the game ranked first in the league in fewest yards allowed, also had moments of success, including a key fourth-down stop that gave the offense a chance to tie the game.

However, in critical moments, the Jets failed to make decisive plays, while their opponent capitalized. After the Jets tied the game, the defense allowed a 49-yard pass from Jared Goff to Isaac TeSlaa on the first play from scrimmage. Three plays later, the defense left running back Jahmyr Gibbs open for an 11-yard touchdown, which proved to be the game-winning score.

The Jets' offense also faltered late. With the ball at the Detroit 28-yard line and trailing by eight, quarterback Geno Smith was sacked by former Jet Chuck Clark, resulting in a lost fumble that sealed the game with 42 seconds remaining. This was the Jets' first turnover of the season.

"We feel like we're good enough to take these games over," said Ruckert. "We're in the winning business, so fighting and competing like we did today is cool, but at the end of the day it wasn't enough. We feel we could easily be 3-0 by now."

Cornerback Brandon Stephens echoed the sentiment, stating, "I feel like we should have won that game." Center Josh Myers added, "It's incredibly frustrating. Those are moments where we got to execute. We've got to go win the game. We were right there."

Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips acknowledged the team's mindset: "We all understand there are no moral victories, so we have to look internally, as players, as everyone. Everyone on this team has the character to look at themselves and ask, 'How can I help close my own gap?' We're going to go close that gap."

When asked how the team can close the gap, Glenn reiterated his earlier message. "Keep working," he said. "We're right here, and it's this gap we have to close. Our guys know that. Our guys believe that if we keep competing and keep coaching and playing to close that gap, we'll be fine."