Jets Continue to Show Progress in 17-0 Preseason Win
Over Steelers

August 21, 2026

I know, I know. It's preseason.

But I'm starting to like what I'm seeing.

For the second week in a row, the Jets' starters played well on both sides of the football. This time it resulted in a 17-0 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The final score doesn't mean much in August. What does matter is how the players who will be on the field when the games count are performing - and so far, there are some encouraging signs.

Geno Looks Sharp

After sitting out last week's game with a minor ankle sprain, Geno Smith got his first preseason action and couldn't have looked much better.

Geno completed all seven of his passes on the opening drive and led the Jets down the field for a touchdown.

What immediately caught my attention was the passing game.

Adonai Mitchell caught an early pass for a first down and then followed it with another reception of more than 15 yards.

Yes, Jets fans. An actual pass of more than 15 yards.

And they did it on back-to-back completions.

Garrett Wilson got involved. Mason Taylor moved the chains on third down. And the drive ended with Geno finding a wide-open Jelani Woods for a 12-yard touchdown.

More importantly, receivers were getting open.

That's something I haven't been able to say enough about Jets offenses over the years.

The play-calling also had a nice mix of runs and passes early, and Geno looked completely comfortable running the offense.

My only concern was the pressure getting to him. The offensive line allowed more pressure than I'd like to see, and that continued after Cade Klubnik entered the game.

Where Is the Running Game?

This was probably my biggest concern offensively.

Breece Hall was out with a groin injury, but Braelon Allen is more than capable of carrying the football.

For whatever reason, the running game just wasn't there.

Maybe the offensive line had an off night. Maybe Pittsburgh's defensive front deserves some credit. It's probably a little of both.

What I didn't particularly like was falling into a predictable run-run-pass pattern at times.

If the running game isn't working, mix it up. Give me play-action on first down. Throw the football. Make the defense think instead of allowing them to anticipate what's coming.

It's preseason, and that's exactly what these games are for, but it's something I'll be watching next week.

The Defense Continues to Impress

For the second consecutive week, the Jets' first-team defense looked very good.

The run defense in particular was impressive. Pittsburgh had very little success running the football against the Jets' starters.

David Bailey also made one of the defensive plays of the night, exploding off the edge and sacking the quarterback for a loss of roughly 12 yards - even while being held.

That's the type of play that gets your attention.

Veteran Demario Davis showed that he still has some gas left in the tank, and Andre Cisco came up with an interception to end a Steelers possession.

Later in the game, defensive lineman James Lynn added two sacks.

There is one concern, however, and it's the same one I had after the Tampa Bay game.

The underneath pass defense is too soft.

That's now two weeks in a row where I've noticed opposing offenses finding openings underneath.

Maybe it's scheme. Maybe it's something the coaching staff isn't showing in preseason. Either way, it's officially something I'm watching.

Klubnik Continues to Show Something

Cade Klubnik took over after Geno's opening series.

He didn't have the same success he had against Tampa Bay, but there were still flashes.

One play in particular stood out. Backed up near the Jets' own goal line, Klubnik rolled out, couldn't find anyone open and took off for approximately 25 yards.

That's another dimension he gives this offense.

The Jets' quarterbacks were under heavy pressure throughout the night, so evaluating Klubnik strictly by the passing numbers wouldn't tell the whole story.

I still like what I've seen from the rookie through two preseason games.

Don't Overlook the Special Teams

Here's something else I've noticed two weeks in a row:

The Jets' special teams look pretty darn good.

The kickoff coverage was excellent again, and the unit has consistently played with speed and discipline.

Jason Sanders added a fourth-quarter field goal after a big run by Bergen, and overall the special teams have quietly become one of the more encouraging parts of this preseason.

That's not flashy, but good football teams win games on special teams.

Some Young Players Continue to Flash

As the game moved into the later quarters, the younger players took over.

James Lynn's two sacks certainly got my attention.

Then Brady Cook delivered one of the prettiest throws of the night, connecting with Quincy Skinner for a touchdown that put the Jets up 17-0.

These are the moments preseason football is really about.

Some of these guys are fighting for roster spots. Others are trying to convince the coaching staff they deserve a larger role.

And every snap matters.

Now Comes the Real Test

Two preseason games down, and I like the direction this team is heading.

The starting offense moved the football through the air.

Geno looked sharp.

The receivers got open.

The first-team run defense was excellent.

The pass rush made plays.

And special teams had another strong performance.

There are concerns.

The running game needs improvement. The offensive line has to do a better job protecting the quarterbacks. And for the second consecutive week, I'm circling the underneath pass coverage.

But overall?

Progress.

And that's what August is supposed to be about.

Next week will tell us considerably more.

The starters are expected to play at least a half, which means we'll finally get an extended look at something closer to the team we'll see when the regular season begins.

After two preseason games, I'm encouraged.

After next week, we may finally have a pretty good idea of what we've got.