For the third straight time with a new head coach, the New York Jets have started their first season of a new regime with an 0-3 record.

New York’s 29-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had some silver linings, primarily in the final quarter. But for all of those positives, the Jets struggled mightily through the first three quarters of the game.

A last-ditch gasp of momentum doesn’t take away from the fact that the organization hasn’t played well as a whole.

While there are plenty of people to point fingers at, we need to address the primary culprits.

From wide receiver Garrett Wilson’s mediocre day to Sauce Gardner struggling in coverage against a good Buccaneers offense, the Jets’ star players have not played up to their new contracts.

That needs to change immediately.

Jets need better from stars

Gardner and Wilson weren’t the only Jets stars who seemingly struggled on Sunday in key moments. New York’s linebackers continue to disappoint early on in the season, their offensive line was beaten down poorly, and the running backs could not make plays even when given opportunities.

The Jets’ core players did not perform to the level expected from the organization on Sunday.

At the end of the day, though, New York’s two most lucrative stars need to play like the $120+ million men that they are.

Garrett Wilson’s 10-catch day comes with a caveat. He only produced 8.7 yards per reception, which highlights his lack of playmaking down the field. Wilson had a chance to win a one-on-one matchup for a touchdown on a vertical route in the first quarter, but he allowed Buccaneers corner Zyon McCollum to beat him to the spot.

Later in the first half, Wilson’s failure to come back to the ball on a Tyrod Taylor pass allowed Tampa Bay to close the half with a pick-six, which ended up being the deciding factor of the contest.

While Taylor’s pass was ill-advised, Wilson did not do his part to prevent the turnover, which the 25-year-old acknowledged.

“I can’t do that. I can’t give the DB a right to the ball,” Wilson told Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. “That was inexcusable. I gotta help my quarterback out there.”

Mistakes like that pick-six are things receivers are taught from the very beginning of their careers. For a receiver making over $30 million per year, Wilson needs to be better.

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The same should be said about Gardner. While one pass interference call on him was ticky-tack at best, New York’s lockdown corner clearly lost the battle to Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka on Sunday.

Before leaving to be evaluated for a concussion (and returning later), Gardner gave up big plays to both Evans and Tampa Bay’s first-round rookie receiver. He also missed several tackles, a consistent problem for the Jets defense throughout the loss.

Cornerbacks have arguably the most difficult job in the modern NFL. Even the smallest tug of a jersey or bump on a wideout can be called for a flag. In many ways, Gardner is being wrongfully targeted by fans for his role in the loss.

That doesn’t take away from the fact Gardner has to be better. He is the highest-paid cornerback in football. After a strong debut against Pittsburgh, he has not played to that level over the past two games.

Gardner and Wilson weren’t bad on Sunday, but they didn’t play like the superstars they are being paid as. Add two struggling linebackers (Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood) and an offensive line that gave up an immensely high pressure rate, and it’s pretty clear why the Jets are 0-3.

Their stars aren’t playing like stars.