One position group has to have Jets feeling thrilled right now

The New York Jets fell by a final of 23-10 to the Baltimore Ravens, but it was a closer game than the score lets on.

New York led at halftime, didn’t trail until midway through the third quarter, and came within nine feet of making it a three-point game in the fourth quarter. The Jets ultimately out-gained Baltimore by 41 yards.

Despite the loss, it was a performance that should encourage Jets fans who maintain realistic expectations for the team’s gutted roster. Considering the strength of the opponent, it was actually one of their most competitive outings of the season. They didn’t look like a team that came in as 14.5-point underdogs.

Moral victories don’t mean much to NFL coaches, but the Jets can take solace in this one because it was anchored by a plethora of young players who could be a part of the team’s long-term vision.

While numerous position groups stood out in the competitive loss, one took the cake as the main reason why New York gave Baltimore a good fight: The cornerback trio.

Jets’ young cornerback trio shines in Baltimore

The Jets’ defense was superb all afternoon. New York held the Ravens to just 241 yards of offense, their fewest in a game with Lamar Jackson at quarterback since Week 3 of the 2020 season.

Give plenty of credit to the run defense, which limited the Ravens to 98 yards on 34 carries (2.9 per carry). Baltimore scored two goal-line rushing touchdowns, but for the most part, the Jets contained Jackson and Derrick Henry on the ground.

Even more impressive than the run defense, though, was the Jets’ pass defense against a two-time MVP (should be three-time, in my opinion). Jackson finished with 153 passing yards, his fewest in a home start (without leaving early due to injury) since Week 7 of the 2022 season.

Considering Jackson added just 11 yards on the ground, he finished with a shockingly modest total of 164 combined passing and rushing yards. That might be an acceptable start for Justin Fields, but it stands as Jackson’s career low in a start that was not cut short by injury.

Granted, Jackson was visibly limited, as he’s dealt with multiple injuries this season. Nonetheless, he remains one of the most efficient and accurate passers in football, capable of shredding defenses with his arm even when he isn’t running wild in the open field. On Sunday, though, the Jets shut him down.

New York’s success had little to do with the pass rush. On 29 dropbacks, Jackson was sacked just once, and he didn’t take any other hits besides that lone sack. He was pressured on a measly 28% of his dropbacks (well below the 35.8% league average) despite averaging a mammoth 3.41 seconds to throw, which is a testament to how well he was protected.

How did the Jets keep Jackson quiet through the air, then? It’s simple: Their coverage was outstanding.

Even though Jackson received excellent protection, he often found himself standing around in the pocket with nowhere to throw the football. The Jets’ coverage frequently forced Jackson to check the ball down, throw it away, or scramble for minimal yardage.

Everyone in the back end of the Jets’ defense brought their A game, from the safeties to the linebackers. Even Jermaine Johnson forced a throwaway by sniffing out a screen and forcing Jackson to dirt the ball.

However, an elite coverage performance can never happen if the cornerbacks aren’t a major factor. On Sunday, the Jets’ cornerback trio of Brandon Stephens, Azareye’h Thomas, and Jarvis Brownlee was outstanding.

When targeting one of Stephens, Thomas, or Brownlee, Jackson completed 7-of-12 passes for just 73 yards, no touchdowns, and three first downs. That’s a measly 6.1 yards per attempt with a 25% first down conversion rate; fantastic numbers for a cornerback trio in any situation, let alone on the road against a superstar passer.

Granted, the Jets got bailed out a few times. Stephens watched Zay Flowers drop an easy first down along the sideline. Thomas was beat by DeAndre Hopkins for a potential touchdown on a stutter-go, but the ball was overthrown. Thomas was also called for a holding penalty, although it was ticky-tack.

Nonetheless, New York’s inexperienced trio still earned its standout numbers. Plenty of impressive reps could be seen on film.

Stephens continues to impress with his tackling. He shut down a screen in a 1-on-2 situation by dominating the block of Hopkins.

Azareye’h Thomas did a picture-perfect job of shutting down this deep shot.

It is worth noting that the Jets played a lot more zone coverage in this game than we’ve typically seen from them. It worked wonders, as the Jets did an excellent job of passing off their assignments throughout the afternoon. New York’s zone looks frequently left Jackson with no options.

On this critical third-and-5 play in the red zone, all seven players in coverage do a phenomenal job of blanketing Baltimore’s receiving options, forcing Jackson to eat the ball for a field goal attempt. Take particular notice of Brownlee (top of screen), who does a great job of matching Zay Flowers’ vertical route, which is Jackson’s primary read on the play.

It was a critical bounce-back game for Brownlee, who needed a game like this after a cold two-game stretch in which he committed six penalties and allowed 125 yards. In Baltimore, Brownlee allowed just two catches on three targets for 18 yards and one first down. He committed no penalties, missed no tackles, and had a trio of defensive stops, including two run stuffs near the goal line.

A bright future in the back end

It wasn’t long ago that the Jets arguably had the best cornerback trio in the league. From 2022 to 2023, the lineup of Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter II made opposing receivers lose sleep on Saturday nights.

Seemingly in the blink of an eye, the group that once anchored the Jets’ defense has skipped town. Reed walked to Detroit in free agency this past offseason, while Carter and Gardner were dumped in back-to-back trades within the past month.

In their wake, the Jets have entrusted the future of their secondary to Stephens, Thomas, and Brownlee.

Stephens was signed in free agency to a three-year, $36 million deal, essentially replacing Reed. While the Jets saved money compared to Reed’s three-year, $48 million deal, Stephens’ track record was far less reliable than Reed’s. It was a major gamble considering the erratic nature of Stephens’ career production, but through 11 games in 2025, Stephens has played up to the contract.

Thomas was chosen in the third round of the 2025 draft, seen at the time as a luxury pick due to the Jets’ depth at cornerback. However, the Jets viewed Thomas as the best player available—some analysts had first-round grades on him—so they leaped at the chance to grab the 20-year-old corner, even if he wouldn’t have an immediate role on defense.

It did not take long for the Jets to prove why “BPA” is the best way to go in the draft. As deep as the Jets looked at cornerback on draft day, two members of their starting trio were gone by the trade deadline, paving the way for Thomas to take the reins as a starter.

Thomas’ play in limited spurts at the start of the season likely played a role in their comfort level with trading Gardner. In sporadic appearances before the Gardner trade, Thomas impressed every time he took the field, particularly in a standout performance against Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with Gardner sidelined. Now elevated to a starting role, Thomas is getting a chance to show his potential on a full-time basis.

Brownlee had a similar effect in the slot. The Jets traded for the 2024 seventh-round pick in September amidst injuries at cornerback, specifically to Carter. As a starter in relief of Carter, Brownlee impressed, bringing the physical style of play that Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks covet. Brownlee retained the starting slot role when Carter returned to action, and shortly after, Carter was traded.

After a hot start, Brownlee showed the warts that prompted Tennessee to trade him over a tumultuous two-game stretch from Weeks 10-11. Quickly, though, he reminded the Jets of his potential in Baltimore. Six games remain for Brownlee to continue building his case to retain the starting slot role into 2026.

There is a chance that New York could exit this season with all three starting cornerback spots accounted for. If Thomas and Brownlee continue playing as well as they did in Baltimore, the Jets won’t feel pressured to make a premium investment at cornerback this offseason. It will leave them with more assets to allocate toward other needs, particularly on offense.

Jets general manager Darren Mougey came out of Baltimore looking like a pretty smart guy for several reasons. Nothing sent a more promising message than the play of his three cornerbacks, though. Mougey took a bold approach by promptly dumping three beloved Jets mainstays who built a reputation as an elite trio, and so far, there appears to be a method to his madness.

If Mougey manages to replicate the peak production of Gardner, Reed, and Carter (or even come somewhat close to it) after netting a surplus of extra cap space and draft picks by parting with them, it would be a masterstroke in team building by the young GM.