The New York Jets headed into Acrisure Stadium looking for another step forward after opening the preseason with a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This time, they didn’t just get another opportunity to evaluate their roster. They walked away with a 17-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers and, more importantly, a defensive performance that offered plenty of encouragement.
Preseason records don’t carry much weight, and neither does a shutout in August if it doesn’t translate when the games count. Still, there was something satisfying about watching the Jets make Pittsburgh work for virtually every yard while quarterback Geno Smith and the starting offense efficiently handled their limited workload.
There were splash plays, young players making their cases and a few familiar concerns that followed New York from Week 1.
With all of that said, here is Jets Wire’s instant analysis from the second week of the NFL preseason
What went right for the Jets in the second preseason game?
Here is a quick list of what went right for the Jets against the Steelers:
Check out some of the highlights:
What went wrong?
What’s the bottom line?
We don’t like seeing David Bailey drop back into coverage during a third-and-eight scenario. We imagine it was also hard for some of you who live outside the area to have to endure a Steelers-centric broadcast on NFL Network, until they took the game off the airwaves, of course.
Don’t tell the guys who played that this one didn’t count. That was refreshing. If you’ve watched more than your fair share of preseason games so far, you’re well aware that can be ‘hit or miss.’ The verdict? Smith and the first-team offense looked very good. Receiver Garrett Wilson is still a brilliant route technician. Kubnik wasn’t as crisp as last week, but held his own.
What’s next?
Two down… One to go… The Jets’ third and final preseason game comes next Friday (August 28). They meet the crosstown New York Giants and are technically the home team. Kickoff for that one is scheduled for 8 pm EST.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Instant analysis: What went right, what went wrong in Jets’ win vs. Steelers
Reporting by Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire / Jets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire | USA TODAY Network
