2-8.

That is the New York Jets’ Week 1 record over the last 10 seasons. That is tied for the second-worst over that span, just behind the 1-8-1 Indianapolis Colts.

Now, with Gang Green’s Week 1 clash less than 48 hours away, improving that atrocious record is more important than ever.

Week 1 is as close to a must-win as ever

I know this seems to be the narrative every year. Dating back to 2023, you could make the case that every Week 1 Jets game has been categorized as a “must-win.”

News flash: if a team loses in Week 1, it doesn’t mean they will go on to lose out. And if a team wins to begin the season, it doesn’t mean they will hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

At the end of the day, though, for a team like the Jets, getting off to a strong start, especially against a favorable opponent like the Tennessee Titans, is uniquely crucial. Even with the Robert Saleh storylines and all of that jazz to the side, a Week 1 win would be even more valuable for this Jets team than most other organizations.

Winning in Tennessee would build momentum going forward, something the Jets have not exited Week 1 with since 2018, given what happened during their last Week 1 win back in 2023. Plus, considering the series of opposing star players who will be absent for the Jets’ Week 2-3 contests, the team could be in position for a very strong start to the year.

The Green Bay Packers will be without stars Micah Parsons and Josh Jacobs for their Week 2 trip to MetLife Stadium, while the Detroit Lions will be missing Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph when the Jets come to town in Week 3.

Now, that doesn’t mean fans should be banking on a 3-0 start, but getting a win against their least formidable opponent until most likely Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns is critical.

A season-opening loss can cause a team to spiral, no matter how competitive they look. The Jets know this all too well. Look at last year, when New York pushed the Pittsburgh Steelers to the final whistle in Week 1 and had a legitimate chance to come out on top.

Following a thrilling 34-32 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 1, the Jets lost six straight games and entered Week 8 with a 0-7 record.

The Jets can’t afford to let that happen again. If it does, head coach Aaron Glenn will most likely be out, and the Jets will enter another “retool” period.

Gang Green’s offseason moves were highly encouraging, and there is no doubt the team got better on paper, but if those additions don’t translate to wins, it will be a problem.

The Jets arguably have a roster advantage over Tennessee. Overall, their roster has the potential to lead them to a productive season. It all comes down to coaching and execution.

The coaching aspect will be even more emphasized in Week 1 as the Jets face off between Brian Daboll and Robert Saleh, who have a stronger track record as play-callers than the Jets’ Aaron Glenn and Frank Reich.

It’s impossible to guarantee a certain number of wins for the Jets this season, but winning Week 1 is the first step to finding a reason to be positive about a team that is coming off a 3-14 season.