A major element in Sunday’s clash between the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers will be Aaron Glenn’s blitz-heavy defense against quarterback Jordan Love, whom Glenn has had success against in the past.

At first glance, Love’s Week 1 numbers suggest that he played well against the Minnesota Vikings’ absurd 82.1% blitz rate. When blitzed, he completed 21-of-37 passes (56.7%) for 387 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while taking three sacks on 22 pressures.

However, the gaudy box-score numbers are misleading. Minnesota’s heavy blitz rate actually yielded tremendous results for Brian Flores’ defense.

Love’s production against the blitz is a conundrum

When a QB is blitzed over 80% of the time, their yardage total is expected to look pretty.

Love produced plenty of yardage across his whopping 37 blitzed pass attempts, but much of that came through one explosive play, an 81-yard touchdown on a catch-and-run by Christian Watson.

According to FTN Fantasy, though, Love averaged -0.16 EPA (Expected Points Added) per dropback against the blitz, ranking 19th among Week 1 quarterbacks. Furthermore, he didn’t record any big-time throws, per PFF, while he had two turnover-worthy plays.

Love also ranked 22nd in completion percentage over expected (-4.8%), showing how inconsistent his accuracy was when blitzed.

Overall, the important distinction is that Love didn’t consistently dominate against the blitz. He converted on one big play and was largely ineffective across the rest of his dropbacks. It’s debatable how much of the blame for those results should be on Love versus his shoddy pass protection, but the bottom line is that Minnesota’s blitzes caused trouble for Green Bay’s passing attack.

This creates an intriguing opportunity for Glenn.

During his final season as the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator in 2024, Glenn blitzed on 34.6% of opposing dropbacks, which was the second-highest rate in the NFL. In Week 1, his first game as the Jets’ defensive play caller, he blitzed at a 44.9% rate, the third-highest mark in the season’s opening week.

Glenn already has an encouraging history against Love, who led the Packers to a 1-3 record against Glenn’s defense in Detroit while completing 63% of his passes with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

We will see how Love and Green Bay adjust their game plan after dealing with Flores’ blitzes in Week 1. Regardless, Glenn should continue doing what he did last week: bring the heat.

The Jets’ overall goal should be to put as much pressure on Love as possible. The Packers will once again be missing starting running back Josh Jacobs, meaning the Jets shouldn’t need to worry about stopping the Packers’ rushing attack as much. Green Bay rushed for just 66 yards without Jacobs in Week 1.

Considering that the Packers will also be missing Micah Parsons, whom their defense has allowed 30.5 points per game without, the Jets’ offense has an opportunity to rack up points on the other side.

Between the lack of a run game, a depleted defense, a porous offensive line, and the possibility of an 0-2 start, Love has an immense weight on his shoulders heading into Week 2. So, the Jets’ job is simple: pile on as much extra pressure as possible.