The Jets (0-3) and the Dolphins (0-3) converge on Miami Gardens, FL, on Monday night looking to get their first win of the 2025-26 NFL season. Despite dropping a 29-27 heartbreaker last week in Tampa, his team's second 2-point defeat in three games, HC Aaron Glenn is confident his team is learning how to win.
"They're starting to understand exactly how to win," he said. "We just have to do a better job of getting over that hump and winning these games. And I know as we continue to progress during the season, those guys will do a good job of that."
'I Don't Think We're Far From It At All'
Aaron Glenn's confidence has permeated throughout a young group that is growing together. Tangible steps were taken in Tampa as the Jets displayed a resiliency that was absent in Week 2. After not getting up off the canvas in a 30-10 loss to the Bills, the Jets rallied from a 23-6 deficit and took a 27-26 lead over the Buccaneers following Tyrod Taylor touchdown passes to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, plus an amazing special teams block and scoop and score from Will McDonald IV. But Chase McLaughlin's 36-yard FG as time expired kept the Jets winless.
"There are so many young guys, a lot of rookies, a lot of guys who've been on different teams and stuff," Lazard said. "Just being able to establish that camaraderie within this group, the offense being able to pick up the defense, the defense able to pick up the offense and help each other out and make a play when it's needed. And I think that's like the one thing that's been missing, and I don't think we're far from it at all."
Same Amount of Confidence
Justin Fields, who has been a full participant at practice this week, will return to the starting lineup if he clears concussion protocol on Saturday. The Jets found offensive rhythm late against the Buccaneers and they hope they can experience that from the outset in South Florida.
"We're just as confident with either guy," Allen Lazard said. "I think the difference you probably can say that Justin has is his age and his legs from that standpoint, but Tyrod [Taylor] is still very effective as you saw last Sunday of still being able to gain some yards. The pressure breaks down and all that and if there is an opening lane, he can go out there and make a play. With Justin and Tyrod, we have the same amount of confidence."
While Taylor (8-48) and Fields (5-49) were the Jets' leading rushers against the Bucs and Bills, respectively, RB Breece Hall, who torched the Steelers for 107 yards, was limited to 50 yards on 19 carries the past two games. The Dolphins' defense is No. 28 in rush yards allowed a game (145 per) and No. 22 in rush yards/play (4.53).
"I think we just have to establish it early and often in the game, and we have to be successful early on," Lazard said. "When you're not successful in the run game, it kind of hinders the pass game and that kind of trickles into the rest of the first half and everything. If we are able to get the ball rolling and get 4 or 5 yards a pop at the beginning of the game, then I think everything else will naturally open up, especially on the back end. But more importantly when the third or fourth quarter comes, we'll know which runs are hitting nice and you can kind of stay on those and run the clock out."
For the second time in franchise history, the Miami defense has allowed 30-plus points in each of its three games. The 'Fins rank last in scoring (32.3 per), opponent completion percentage (78.8) and opponent passer rating (128.9). They changed up their secondary landscape in the offseason, sending CB Jalen Ramsey to Pittsburgh in a deal that saw the Fins acquire S Minkah Fitzpatrick.
"I think the thing they do well is they disguise coverages and they kind of rock and roll," Lazard said. "Guys play different positions -- they don't necessarily play a traditional two where the corners are low and the safeties are high. They can invert it, they can have a nickel go back there and stuff. So they do a lot of stuff to kind of mess with your eyes before the snap. Then post-snap, they're all dropping to different positions. There are a lot of on the run adjustments that you have to make to be able to know where to sit in zone."
With WR Garrett Wilson (21-229-2TD) on another early season tear, Hall is the team's second-leading receiver (8-78) and rookie TE Mason Taylor, who grew up in South Florida, continues to get more involved and is coming off a 4-catch game against the Bucs.
"He's a dynamic player for us," Aaron Glenn said of Taylor. "And when the ball gets in his hands, even when the ball is not in his hands, he makes plays for us as far as penalties are concerned, I think he drew two penalties last week. But he's a guy that we all recognize needs to get the ball. Like he needs to get it, Breece needs to get it -- those guys are playmakers for us, and we need to do everything we can to put it in their hands."
'Our Guys Are Right Where They Need to Be'
In a league where teams approach each game like a different season, the Jets feel like they found something last week in Florida and that could translate into primetime success in the Sunshine State on Monday night.
"I think it's how we finished the game, the energy that we had on the sideline, the determination that we had to go finish the game – I think those are good things that we can peel from that game and try to apply to this game coming up," Allen Lazard said.
Aaron Glenn added: "Our guys are right where they need to be mentally, and we're looking forward to this."
