If there has been one constant through the first few weeks of training camp for the New York Jets, it’s that their passing attack doesn’t look capable of being competent in 2025.
There’s plenty of reason for that, but most fans and analysts are already beginning to wonder if the team made a mistake by bringing in Justin Fields as their starter for the upcoming season.
Despite all the concern over the last few practices, head coach Aaron Glenn remains steadfast in his belief that New York can win with the former Chicago Bears first-round pick.
As crazy as it may seem, the head coach isn’t wrong. And NFL history tells us as such.
Past Offenses that Dictate Jets Future
There are three clear examples over the last 20 years that show teams can be deficient at passing the football and still find regular season success.
The common denominators among all three teams were a top defense, an elite rushing attack, and a dominant offensive line. The current Jets roster could have all three of those going into the new year.
If they can mirror the kind of play that these three teams found, New York will be just fine in Glenn’s first season.
2018 Baltimore Ravens
It may be comical to think about now, but there was a time when Lamar Jackson looked like just as much of a deficient passer as Justin Fields.
After starting his rookie year behind Joe Flacco, the former 32nd overall pick became the Ravens’ starter in Week 11. Over his first seven starts, the Heisman Trophy winner completed 58% of his passes and passed for just 159 yards per game. It called for the Ravens to fundamentally shift their offense to a run-first unit.
It worked, too. Baltimore went 6-1 under the young Jackson and won the AFC North. During that stretch, the defense allowed 18.1 points per game, and the offense rushed for 229.6 yards per game.
No one will think to compare Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP now, with Fields, but he was a bad pocket passer early in his career. Baltimore’s 2018 season shows that teams can still find ways to win by being a run-first offense.
2021 Philadelphia Eagles
Before the Eagles grew into the dominant team we know today, Jalen Hurts struggled mightily in his first year as a starting quarterback.
Once the team transitioned into a run-first offense, success followed. Philadelphia won six of its final eight games down the stretch, and even reached the playoffs in Hurts’ first year as a starter.
Now, Philly’s starting quarterback may have grown into a top-five quarterback in the league, but during the 2021 season, he could barely crack the top 20 list. He had a lot of the issues that Fields goes through now.
Yet, the Eagles still found a way to win. That’s a blueprint for the Jets to use this season.
READ MORE: Can Justin Fields emulate Jalen Hurts' development?2009 New York Jets
New York can look to its own history for an example of how a run-first team can succeed in the modern NFL. In 2009, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez threw eight more interceptions than touchdowns, and still had the organization in the playoffs.
Led by Thomas Jones and supported by a young Shonn Greene, the Jets ran the ball effectively and used an elite defense to win games they definitely should not have. New York finished first in points per game allowed (14.8) and rushing yards per game (172.3).
Running the football and playing elite defense can still win games.
