Jets Seek Turnaround as Geno Smith Aims to Overcome Slow Starts

The New York Jets are looking to quarterback Geno Smith to help reverse a troubling trend of slow offensive starts as they face the Cleveland Browns this Sunday at MetLife Stadium. This comes after a 23-12 loss to the Chicago Bears, a game where Smith struggled, completing 8-of-15 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown, with 58 of those yards coming on a late fourth-quarter scoring pass.

Smith's accuracy, which had been a strength in the first three games of the season, faltered against the Bears, with him completing only 53.3 percent of his passes. While the loss to Chicago involved multiple contributing factors, Smith acknowledged his role in the defeat. The Jets now find themselves on a three-game losing streak, and their season hangs in the balance.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn expressed confidence in Smith's ability to rebound, attributing the performance to the inherent challenges of the NFL. "You have to fight through some things," Glenn stated. "I know that he’s going to get right back to who he is, and that’s completing a high percentage of throws, but I have no concern with that with this player because of who he is and his career and how he’s operated."

Beyond Smith's individual performance, a more concerning pattern for the Jets offense has been their inability to generate points early in games. In Chicago, the Jets managed only four plays in the first quarter, largely pinned deep in their own territory. This mirrors a season-long issue: their only first-quarter points came from a touchdown in the season opener against Tennessee. In the last three games, the Jets have punted seven times in the first quarter, gaining minimal yardage.

However, Smith's statistics show an upward trend as games progress. His completion percentage increases from 63 percent in the first quarter to 85 percent in the fourth. Three of his five touchdown passes this season have occurred in the fourth quarter, with only one in the first half and none in the first quarter. This suggests an ability to perform under pressure later in games, but the team needs that momentum from the outset.

Players have emphasized the importance of better starts in practice this week. When asked about achieving early success, Smith pointed to execution. "Executing better," Smith said. "That’s really it; we’ve got to execute down in, down out, and whether that’s the first or the fourth quarter, you’ve got to do your assignment."

The upcoming game against the Browns presents an opportunity to address these early-game struggles, as Cleveland has allowed the fourth-most first-quarter points in the league. Smith indicated he has put the Chicago game behind him, focusing instead on the present process. "For me, it’s all about the process and that’s something I continue to focus on," he said. The Jets hope that focus translates into an early lead and a crucial win to halt their losing streak.