It’s homecoming week for New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, as his team travels to take on the Detroit Lions.
Before taking the lead Jets job, Glenn was the defensive coordinator for the Lions from 2021 to 2024. During that time, he raised the Lions from near the bottom of the defensive rankings to 20th in total yards per game (342.4) and 7th in points per game (PPG) at 20.1. He earned a reputation as a culture-builder and talent developer, helping to nurture defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, cornerback Brian Branch, safety Kerby Joseph, linebacker Jack Campbell, and nose tackle Alim McNeill.
Glenn implemented an attacking system, simplifying things so the players could use their talents. That helped the Lions get off the deck from a 3-13-1 record in Glenn’s first year to 12-5 and 15-2 in his final two seasons with the team. They reached the NFC Championship in 2023, and lost in the Divisional Round in 2024.
The strong showing of the Jets defense at the start of the 2026 season is showing that Glenn’s philosophies are starting to take hold for the team. The Jets have held opposing offenses under 200 yards total in their first two games. That has impressed oddsmakers, who have lowered the line from +9 ½ favoring the Lions down to +6 ½ as of Tuesday.
Glenn’s defense will get a true test against the high-powered Detroit Lions offense. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs has 208 yards in his first two games of this season, a 4.6 average. He’s a threat to break one every time he touches the football.
Also on the Jets radar is receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has 19 catches for 209 yards in 2026, an 11 yards-per-reception average. He also has four touchdowns.
Then there’s Detroit quarterback Jared Goff. He is off to a blazing start, recording 533 passing yards, 6 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Unless the Jets rush can slow him down, he’ll destroy any team.
It will be interesting to see how the Jets react to the disappointment of losing to Green Bay after entering the fourth quarter with a 17-7 lead. The team was fired up for its homecoming game, but now has to guard against a letdown against a tough NFC North opponent.
The Lions also lost in Week 2, falling to the mighty Buffalo Bills 41-31. The Lions struggled to contain quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense, surrendering 446 total yards. The Lions have now surrendered 658 passing yards over the first two weeks, ranking as the worst pass defense in the NFC. That may be an invitation for the Jets to open up their short passing game and try a few shots with receivers Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell. Veteran Lions safety Avonte Maddox is out with an injury for the remainder of the year, and Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch have missed early-week practices, indicating they are dinged up.
That will be tempting for the Jets on offense, but Glenn knows he has to be cautious in his approach with a potent Lions attack.
