The real test awaits for Jets’ improving young defense

No one is going to mistake the 2025 New York Jets defense for some of the elite groups in recent franchise history.

They rank 19th in the league in yards per game allowed and 26th in points per game allowed. The team has had moments of success, particularly in performances against the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers, but also struggled in contests against Buffalo, Dallas, and Cincinnati.

After last week’s win over the Cleveland Browns, though, it seems the young unit may be figuring things out.

Despite losing two of their best players at the deadline, the Jets’ defense led the way in a 27-20 win over the Browns at home. Cleveland’s offense gained only 278 yards in a game where the Jets’ offense did little to help out the defense, recording just 169 yards.

It was a performance that showed the Jets have a path to become a good defense moving forward, even without their former All-Pros.

Jets defense improves in win

There were several reasons for New York’s defensive success last week. While the play of Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel certainly helped, the Jets made the rookie signal-caller uncomfortable throughout the contest.

New York’s pass rush sacked the Browns quarterback six times, including four from third-year edge rusher Will McDonald. Strong performances from linebacker Jamien Sherwood, safety Tony Adams, and cornerback Brandon Stephens were also key parts of the win.

In the case of Stephens, he believes he saw the makings of a unit starting to figure out its own identity moving forward.

“There was some good stuff we saw on film,” Stephens said. “I saw the physicality, the effort to the ball. It was good, but a lot more to work on.”

Making the performance even more impressive was the fact that the Jets’ defense was able to do this without Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. Coming off their bye week, the Jets shrugged off the absence of their former All-Pros to play a complete game and earn their second straight win.

“I think the guys have handled it well,” Stephens said. “I think guys have stepped up when their name is called and contributed to us performing well and helping this team win.”

New York’s trades of Gardner and Williams were controversial. The Jets received three additional first-round picks, a second-round pick, and two players as part of those deals.

Since then, the Jets’ defense has had to pick up the pieces and build a new identity. They passed their first test, although it was a cakewalk compared to what’s coming next: road trips against Drake Maye’s New England Patriots and Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens.

If they can build off their performance in a short-week contest against New England, their confidence will only increase. They won’t suddenly be hailed as an elite unit, but it would mean the Jets are clearly building a defense to be feared—even if it looks different than fans initially expected.