The New York Jets' 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers to open the Aaron Glenn era will feel like the one that got away, and for a team that is desperate for wins, this one will sting.
Having won all the major statistical categories except the score (most important one), there was plenty to like for the Jets, on both sides of the ball, with Justin Fields running Tanner Engstrand's offense well. The defense gave up a total of just 53 rushing yards but did allow four Aaron Rodgers passing touchdowns.
So, there were a lot of positive things to take out of Week 1, but one thing we know about Glenn is that he isn't about moral victories; he wants proper wins.
But what were his main takeaways from the loss?
“Disappointed, but highly encouraged on things that I saw on tape,” Glenn said. “From an offensive perspective, I think we played exactly the brand of football that we've been actually practicing going from OTAs all the way into training camp. Defensively, I thought our front did a really nice job of creating pressure and stopping the run. Exactly what we want to do to make a team one-dimensional.”
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Justin Fields and the offense rolled for the most part...until the fourth quarter, when it hit the skids and scored on just one of their four possessions.
But it is Week 1, so we aren't throwing the baby out with the bath water; however, this loss was one that the Jets shouldn't have had. They did more than enough to win the game, and as Glenn mentioned, the offense played like it was supposed to, and the defense made Pittsburgh one-dimensional.
Yet Rodgers still tossed four touchdown passes to lead his new team to a win.
Disappointed but highly encouraged feels like the perfect summation of New York in Week 1.
Let's see if they can build on it.
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