Titans head coach Robert Saleh said he didnâÂÂt hold any grudges toward the Jets because they fired him during the 2024 season, but he might hold one for the beating they put on his team on Sunday.
The Jets scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the game and never trailed en route to a 23-10 road win that gave the team their first winning record since they opened 2-1 with Saleh in 2024. They lost their next two games and fired Saleh, who spent last season with the 49ers and joined the Titans in January.
Aaron Glenn replaced Saleh with the Jets and took over the defensive play-calling this season. The first look at that approach was an unqualified success as the Jets pressured Titans quarterback Cam Ward relentlessly and limited the Titans to 195 yards over the entire game. A good chunk of those yards and the only touchdown came in the final five minutes, so the full picture for Brian DabollâÂÂs debut as the Titansâ offensive coordinator was not a pretty one.
It was also the first time Frank Reich called the offensive plays for the Jets and those results were just as good. The Jetsâ offensive line was stellar in both phases, which led to a huge edge in time of possession â 38-plus minutes for the Jets â and total yards for the afternoon. Geno Smith went 19-of-24 for 215 yards with plenty of time to throw and Breece Hall picked up 102 yards on 22 carries to spearhead the rushing attack.
The Jetsâ three first-round picks all contributed to the win. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq scored the first touchdown of the day and linebacker David Bailey was credited with a sack on one of several pressures. Wide receiver Omar Cooper had a 30-yard catch to set up SadiqâÂÂs touchdown, but later left with an ankle injury.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick also suffered a groin injury, so the Jets will have some concerns on the health front heading into a Week 2 game against the Packers. That will be in front of a home crowd that will be fired up by what they saw on Sunday.
The Titans were showered with boos by their crowd and they may hear more of them next Sunday as the Eagles will be the next opponent on the slate in Nashville.