Although the Jets have extended the record for games without an interception to 19, their defense has quietly become stout.
Through two weeks, the Jets have the No. 1 overall defense in the NFL.
In Week 1, the Jets held the Titans to 195 total yards. In Week 2, the Jets limited the Packers to 199 yards in an overtime loss. (The Packers had 156 yards at the end of regulation.)
Per NBC Sports research, if the Jets can limit the Lions to 199 or fewer yards on Sunday, New York will become the third team in the Super Bowl era to hold the opponent to less than 200 yards in the first three games of the season, joining the 1999 Buccaneers and the 1970 Lions.
It won’t be easy against the 2026 Lions, who gained 369 against the Saints and 355 against the Bills. But Jets coach Aaron Glenn knows the Detroit personnel well, given his time spent as the Lions’ defensive coordinator.
The New York offense will need to deliver, too, if the Jets hope to get to 2-1. Detroit’s defense ranks 31st in the league, with 457.5 yards allowed per game.