The decision by HC Aaron Glenn to take his team to London early for Sunday's game against Denver was designed, in part, to help foster camaraderie among his players. Whether it helps the Jets get their first victory of the season or not, QB Justin Fields has felt a vibe that can have immediate and long-term benefits.
"AG challenged us to kind of talk to guys that we're not used to talking to on the team," Fields said on Wednesday, the Jets' first day of practice in the UK. "So this is definitely an opportunity for us to get closer as a team, build that camaraderie and just get closer. So it's been good. I feel like I'll talk to mostly everybody on the team, but some guys are more reserved than others.
He added: "Got down to the city yesterday and went to go get some food with the guys. So that was cool. And you know, as I said, just spending time with my teammates, and, of course, just being here with them all day, instead of us going our separate ways, going home and stuff like that. So, it's been cool."
Fields and the Jets will be facing the Broncos for the sixth-straight season, this time with the Green & White as the "host" at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London. And the Broncos, especially on defense, present a formidable challenge. Denver is coming off a road win against the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles last week.
"They have two edge guys that are pretty elite," Glenn said. "They're very aggressive, very aggressive. They're sending five the majority all the time. So listen, our O-line has their work cut out for them, and they know that."
See the Jets players at practice in London ahead of their Week 6 game against Denver.
Overall, the Broncos' defense in No. 5 in the NFL in yards allowed per game (288.8), No. 5 in rush yards allowed (88.4), No. 8 in passing yards allowed (200.2), No. 3 on third down (30.3%) and No. 1 in red zone defense (28.57%). The Jets' rush offense is No. 3 in the league averaging 144.4 yards a game.
"It's always important to get the ball off fast just to help the O-line, but it'd be super important this week," Fields said. "Of course, they have a great front, two good edge rushers, guys on the inside that get the job done. And now it's always going to be important to get the ball off fast and be efficient."
Denver's Nik Bonitto leads the NFL with 7 sacks and also has 7 TFL and 31 QB pressures. He has collected 20.5 sacks since 2024 spread over 20 games since Week 3 of that season. Zach Allen is second, behind Bonitto, with 13 QB hits. In addition, Jonathon Cooper has 2.5 sacks and the Jets' former DE John Franklin-Myers has 2.
"I think our guys are doing a pretty good job as far as getting the passing game where it needs to be, and then we got to improve," Glenn said. "And I know that we will improve. I have no issues where we're at right now in the passing game.
Fields has been sacked 10 times in four games this season but has thrown 4 TD passes (without an interception) and run for a team-leading 3 TDs and is the Jets' second-leading rusher with 204 yards (behind Breece Hall's 351). Garrett Wilson, 33 catches for 382 yards (11.1 per) and 4 TDs lead the team, however rookie TE Mason Taylor (20 catches for 172) and Fields have begun to craft a promising connection.
