5 questions Jets must answer going into second half of NFL season

We’ve reached the halfway point of the 2025 season for the New York Jets, and the results have been disappointing. A new regime came in promising to make the team one fans could be “proud of.”

Instead, those same supporters have seen much of what they’ve endured over the past 15 years.

Questionable coaching decisions, poor defensive performances, and an inconsistent offense have all contributed to New York’s 1-7 start.

Now entering their bye week, the Jets must learn from their early-season struggles. As the team prepares to return to the field, several questions need answers — ones they must solve if they hope to play better football.

5. Can the offensive scheme mask quarterback deficiencies?

In some games this season, it appeared the Jets had built an offensive structure that is nearly “quarterback-proof.” As limited as Justin Fields is as a passer, he’s had moments — particularly his latest game against the Cincinnati Bengals — where he’s looked like a legitimate starting quarterback.

However, there have been other outings, such as Fields’ starts against the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers, where Fields has looked more like a high school quarterback than an NFL player.

It would be unrealistic to believe the Jets can “fix” Fields and turn him into one of the league’s top signal-callers. That isn’t going to happen.

But if the team can find stability and consistency around its quarterback, it could help mitigate some of his clear and persistent deficiencies.

4. What adjustments will the coaches make in the second half?

For much of the first half of the season, Aaron Glenn has appeared outmatched as the Jets’ head coach. The team has made questionable in-game decisions and has struggled to balance aggression with a more conservative approach.

New York’s coaching staff must be better with in-game management moving forward. First-year staffs often deal with these issues early in a season, but learning from mistakes and showing growth will be crucial for Glenn and his assistants.

3. How can the offensive line improve as the year goes on?

Arguably the team’s biggest strength entering the season was its offensive line. For the most part, that unit has delivered, helping produce a top-five rushing offense.

It hasn’t been perfect, though. As impressive as rookie seventh-overall pick Armand Membou has been, and as solid as Joe Tippmann has looked at guard, the Jets still need more consistency from the left side.

Second-year left tackle Olu Fashanu has experienced some bumps, while veteran left guard John Simpson has been prone to penalties.

That’s to be expected. No offensive lineman on the roster is older than 28, and this group is playing together for the first time. The hope is that the chemistry they’re developing will lead to long-term stability.

That kind of cohesion is hard to find, but improvement down the stretch will be vital.

2. Will more reps together help save the 2025 defense?

The Jets’ defense is far too talented to perform as poorly as it has through the first half. They rank fifth-worst in points allowed (27.6 per game), last in takeaways (1), eighth-worst in rushing yards allowed (135.8 per game), and ninth-worst in passing touchdowns surrendered (1.9 per game).

While there have been flashes of strong play, the defense hasn’t reached the level many expected.

Some of that stems from the transition to a new and more complex scheme that Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks are implementing. In the first year of a system, disjointed performances are common.

But as the season progresses, can the Jets minimize communication breakdowns? Will the defense tighten up as the weather turns colder? Those questions must be answered over the final two months.

1. Can the Jets take a Lions-like leap?

Glenn has compared this Jets rebuild to the Detroit Lions’ 2021 season, when he served as defensive coordinator. That year, the Lions started 0-10-1 under Dan Campbell before winning three of their final six games.

The Jets are slightly better off than those Lions after eight games. New York is 1-7 with five one-score losses, while the Lions were 0-8 with just three of those losses by one score.

But if New York wants to follow a similar path to becoming a playoff contender, it must show steady, week-to-week progress.

Posting a winning record over the final nine games would be a valuable first step in that plan.