Justin Fields supplied Jets followers a glimmer of hope in Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.
Gang Inexperienced’s offense additionally had a 394-yard efficiency.
What does Fields and the Jets offense have for an encore in opposition to the Payments in Week 2?
“You just want to keep improving,” Fields mentioned on Wednesday. “I believe Harrison [Phillips] mentioned it in his interview, we hope it’s the worst sport we performed all season.
“That’s the kind of mindset we want to have. And we want to continue to get better, continue to be better each and every game, and just continue to improve. I think this Sunday was a good way to start out the season, other than the loss. But as an offense, I think we played well.”
In his Jets debut, Fields had one of many higher performances of his profession in opposition to Pittsburgh, his former crew. Not solely was he efficient utilizing his legs to keep away from move rushers, however Fields was spectacular by means of the air in opposition to a stout Steelers protection.
Fields accomplished 16-of-22 passes for 218 yards with a landing move. He additionally rushed for 48 yards and two scores.
Extra importantly, Fields gave the Jets each likelihood to defeat the Steelers regardless of the 34-32 loss. He delivered unbelievable accuracy and contact on his passes, together with his seven passes for 95 yards and a landing to Garrett Wilson. He additionally led the Jets to 32 factors, a complete they solely achieved twice beneath ex-quarterback Aaron Rodgers final season.
The Jets’ reshuffled offensive line additionally helped Fields by giving him a clear pocket to throw passes. Proper guard Alijah Vera-Tucker tore his triceps throughout follow final week and can miss all the season. Joe Tippmann, who was the Jets heart the earlier two seasons, moved to Vera-Tucker’s spot and Josh Myers began at heart.
Fields was sacked simply as soon as all the sport. Additionally they helped the Jets rush for 182 yards and common 4.7 yards per try.
Fields didn’t resemble the identical uneven participant he was all through coaching camp and the preseason. He was decisive, took care of the soccer, and precisely received the ball to his receivers persistently.
“I really enjoyed learning and being in this offense,” Fields mentioned. “Be taught from [Jets offensive coordinator] Tanner [Engstrand] and bounce issues off of one another.
“I think he’s a great OC and great offensive mind and he’s going to get our players where they need to be.”
It was a change in the correct course for Fields, who had notoriously struggled with accuracy all through his profession. He fielded a 72.7% proportion, which is greater than his profession proportion of 61.3.
When the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract in March, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn mentioned the plan was to “let him play quarterback.” Which means, they aren’t going to only let Fields be an athlete/gadget sort of participant that he was throughout his earlier stops with the Bears and Steelers. They need Fields to have extra accountability and likewise to make use of his legs to create alternatives within the passing sport for his receivers.
“That’s always been the plan to let him play quarterback,” Glenn mentioned on Wednesday. “And regardless of the sport plan, what it consists of, he’s going to go on the market and function as finest he can.
“I’ve said that from the very beginning, we’re going to let him play quarterback and we are going to see the things that he likes and we are also going to progress with the things that he is not good at, so he can get better in that aspect. This is still a work in progress and we are going to continue to work with him and I know just the type of person he is and how he’s always been, he’s going to do everything he can to perfect that. I look forward to seeing how he matures through this season.”
The Jets and the Fields will face one other robust problem this week after they play the Payments, who’ve gained the AFC East for the earlier 5 seasons. Buffalo is coming off an exciting 41-40 victory in opposition to Baltimore wherein the crew got here again from a 15-point deficit late within the fourth quarter.
“We are always ready to put up a lot of points,” Fields mentioned. “But our goal is to put up one more point than them on Sunday. So that’s all it matters.”
