The Jets (1-7) earned their first victory of the 2025 season on Sunday, defeating the Bengals (3-5), 39-38, in Cincinnati. The team rallied from a 15-point deficit, scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter. Here are three takeaways from the game.
O-Line Dominates, Run Game Thrives
Despite facing an early deficit, the Jets stuck to their game plan.
"Offensively, we knew we wanted to run the ball quite a bit against this team," HC Aaron Glenn said Sunday. "And we continued to do that. That's one thing that [OC] Tanner [Engstrand] didn't get away from."
The Jets rushed for a season-high 254 yards, highlighted by RB Breece Hall's season-high 133 yards (7.4 yards per carry) and 2 fourth-quarter TDs. The O-line dominated the line of scrimmage, not allowing a single sack for the first time this season (and for the first time since 2023).
"We were very aggressive when it came to running the ball and just showing our brand of football," Glenn said Monday.
RB Isaiah Davis had a career-best performance, rushing for 65 yards and adding 44 receiving yards. Davis broke free for a 50-yard run in the third quarter, and he made an impressive grab for a successful 2-point conversion in the fourth.
QB Justin Fields Delivers in Balanced Offensive Attack
After Tyrod Taylor replaced Justin Fields in the second half of the Jets' Week 7 loss, Fields retook the reins in Cincinnati and was 21-of-32 passing for 244 yards, 1 TD and a 99.0 passer rating. He added 31 yards on the ground and rushed for a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
"Justin was Justin," HC Aaron Glenn said. "It just so happened that things were really clicking for him."
After some uncertainty throughout the week, Fields was named the starter Saturday when Taylor was ruled out with a knee injury.
"He's the ultimate professional," TE Jeremy Ruckert said of Fields, his former Ohio State teammate. "He shows up to work the same guy every day. He's got great faith in himself and his beliefs, and he doesn't let circumstances define his reality."
Ruckert, who added that "you want to go to war for guys like that" contributed in a big way when it mattered most. Trailing by 14 points facing fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter, Fields connected with Ruckert for a 24-yard pickup, setting up a Breece Hall TD on the next play.
Ruckert was one of 9 players to step up and record a reception in the absence of WRs Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds. WR Tyler Johnson led the team with 64 receiving yards and scored his first TD for the Green & White, and TE Mason Taylor recorded the first TD of his pro career.
Defense Steps Up in Critical Moments
While the Jets' defense has played at a high level the last two weeks, it was the Jets' offense that stole the show on Sunday. The unit scored a season-high 39 points -- 23 of which were in the fourth quarter -- and recorded 502 net yards.
The Jets needed every point to edge the Bengals as the defense surrendered 38 points, the most this season.
"It wasn't a good performance [by the defense] and our offense bailed us out today," edge Jermaine Johnson said.
Glenn said DC Steve Wilks made necessary adjustments throughout the game. After a 44-yard Tee Higgins TD in the first half, the receiver did not record another catch. Ja'Marr Chase was held to just 30 receiving yards in the second half after a 61-yard first half.
"Our focus was, make sure the two receivers aren't the ones that beat us," Glenn said. "I thought that was really good by Wilks making sure our guys understood that."
The unit also made critical plays late. After Breece Hall's second TD and a 2-point conversion that cut the deficit to 6, the defense forced a three-and-out. Edge Will McDonald IV recorded his third sack of the season, taking down QB Joe Flacco on third down.
Later, protecting a 1-point lead with the game on the line, the unit made four consecutive stops. CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. broke up a fourth-down pass attempt to seal the victory.
"We're playing supportive football," Glenn said. "When the offense is not clicking, the defense has picked it up. When the defense is not clicking, the offense has picked it up. Complementary football is what we're striving to do."
