In the New York Jets’ 2026 home opener, on a dreary, cool and rainy day in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Jets fell to the Green Bay Packers, 20 – 17.
The game opened with the Jets on defense. They quickly forced a Packers three and out. That started an uneventful first quarter of offense from both teams, as the defenses dominated and neither team came close to scoring. Isaiah Williams endured a nightmare of a first quarter for the Jets, incurring two penalties and fumbling two punt returns. Fortunately for the Jets they recovered both fumbles.
The first quarter ended with the score tied at 0-0 and the Packers on offense near midfield. The Packers finally got something going on offense as they put together a 64 yard touchdown drive highlighted by a 20 yard strike from Jordan Love to Christian Watson. With less than 10 minutes left in the first half the score was Packers 7, Jets 0.
The Jets quickly responded. On their next possession they put together a long drive highlighted by a pass interference penalty that got the Jets into scoring position. Braelon Allen eventually ran the ball in and the Jets tied the score at 7 -7 with a little more than six minutes left in the half.
Neither team scored the rest of the half. The Jets closed out the half with another shockingly inept two minute drill, as they continue to look like the concept is utterly foreign to them.
The quarter and the half ended with the score still Jets 7, Packers 7.
The Jets opened the third quarter on offense and got the ball near midfield before being forced to punt. The Packers responded with a fruitless drive and a punt of their own.
The Jets then got going on offense, putting together a nice looking drive that ended when Geno Smith found Garrett Wilson in the end zone for a touchdown and a 14 – 7 lead late in the third quarter. The third quarter ended with no further scoring.
With a little over 12 minutes remaining in regulation the Jets forced a Packers fumble and recovered it at the 18 yard line with a golden opportunity to stick the dagger in with a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Jets could only manage a short Jason Sanders field goal to take a two score lead at 17 – 7 with just over 11 minutes left.
Just when it looked like the Packers were cooked, they put together their best drive of the game. Aided by a long pass interference penalty against the Jets, the Packers marched quickly down the field for a touchdown as they cut the Jets lead to just three points at 17 – 14 with nearly 8 minutes remaining in the game. Could the Jets hang on?
The Jets were forced to punt on their next possession. Then disaster struck. Skyy Moore broke a 66 yard punt return all the way to the Jets 19 yard line. The Jets defense held from there, forcing a short Packers field goal. Just like that, a double digit Jets lead evaporated in just eight minutes. With just over three minutes to go in the fourth quarter the score was tied at 17, and the Jets were looking for a way to salvage a victory in a game they had dominated up to this point.
The Jets advanced to midfield before failing to convert on third and fourth and short, giving the Packers the ball at midfield and needing just a dozen or so yards to set up for a game winning field goal. The Jets, however, had other plans as they shut down the Packers offense and forced overtime.
The Jets went backward on their first possession in overtime as Geno Smith was sacked on back to back plays. The Jets were forced to punt and the Packers went to work on offense. It wasn’t long until a dumb and tremendously damaging unnecessary roughness penalty on Travis Brownlee gave the Packers the ball deep in Jets territory. A couple of plays later Trey Smack hit a short field goal to win the game for the Packers. The Jets collapse was complete as they blew a double digit fourth quarter lead in a game they should have won. Final score: Packers 20, Jets 17 in overtime.
The devastating loss brought the Jets’ record to 1-1. Now the Jets have to put the loss behind them and get ready for a difficult challenge as they prepare to go on the road to face the Detroit Lions next Sunday.