The No. 2 overall pick and the New York Jets’ prized rookie edge rusher, David Bailey, had a modest debut against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1.

Nothing warranted alarm or concern, but he also didn’t deliver a monster showing. That’s typically how rookie debuts go; they fall somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.

Now, as Gang Green’s Week 2 matchup with the Green Bay Packers approaches, Bailey has a prime opportunity to do some damage.

Bailey’s highly favorable matchup

In Week 1, Bailey generated four total pressures, based on Pro Football Focus’ tracking. While one of those was recorded as a sack, it was a chase-down play on which he pushed a scrambling Cam Ward out of bounds for a one-yard loss.

Bailey showed an excellent motor throughout the afternoon to record that sack and his other three pressures, but he’s still looking to unleash the high-quality sacks and pressures that he was drafted second overall to rack up. He was not credited with any pass-rush wins despite the four pressures, showing that his pressures generally came on chase-downs.

In Week 2, Bailey has a favorable chance to put together a breakout pass-rush performance, as he will go head-to-head with Packers right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele.

Bailey lined up on the defense’s left side (across from the right tackle) on 71% of his defensive snaps (25 of 35) in Week 1. All four of his pressures came from that side as well.

That puts Bailey in an excellent position to do damage against Bako-Bewele.

Against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, Bako-Bewele allowed three pressures, including a sack.

Bako-Bewele also has the NFL’s fifth-highest one-on-one rate among right tackles since 2024, signaling that the Packers trust him to survive without help more frequently than most right tackles. That means Bailey should have plenty of opportunities to attack him on an island.

It’s worth noting, too, that Bako-Bewele was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a knee issue.

This matchup gives Bailey an excellent chance to build on his modest debut. His pass-rush impact off the edge will be crucial as the Jets seek to apply heavy pressure on Packers quarterback Jordan Love.

Love was vulnerable under pressure against the Minnesota Vikings’ blitz-heavy approach in Week 1. He ranked 19th among Week 1 quarterbacks in EPA per dropback against the blitz and 22nd in completion percentage over expected. Furthermore, Love recorded two turnover-worthy plays across 37 dropbacks where he faced a blitz.

The Jets must find a way to create an uncomfortable environment for Love, just like the Vikings did. Without starting running back Josh Jacobs, the Packers’ rushing game shouldn’t concern the Jets much, as the rushing attack generated less than 70 yards against the Vikings. Green Bay’s running backs forced one missed tackle all game.

Love should be the Jets’ main priority, and the good news is that Aaron Glenn has an encouraging track record against the QB.

Glenn has a reputation as a blitz-heavy coach, and he showed that in Week 1, finishing within the league’s top five for blitz rate. It worked, but none of it would have been possible without the Jets’ strong coverage.

If Bailey can consistently win his favorable matchup, it would allow Glenn and the Jets’ defense to get the pressure they need against Love to take some pressure off the secondary, which will be without one of their key pieces, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Obviously, as a rookie, Bailey isn’t going to absolutely dominate each week. However, Sunday’s matchup gives him a strong opportunity to have his first statement game as a pro, in front of the Jets’ home crowd at MetLife Stadium.