Jets' revamped offense with quarterback Geno Smith and coordinator Frank Reich shows it can be solid

Geno Smith and the New York Jets were efficient, effective and mostly productive on offense in their season opener.

Wait, who are these guys?

After trotting out one of the NFL's worst offenses last year, Aaron Glenn and the Jets made several significant changes in the offseason to revamp that side of the ball. Among them: They acquired Smith, who began his career with the franchise in 2013, from Las Vegas; hired Frank Reich as offensive coordinator; bolstered their offensive line; and added a few young playmakers in tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., a pair of first-rounders.

They all helped lead the Jets to an impressive 23-10 victory over the Titans in Tennessee on Sunday.

“Our offense, how balanced we were — running the ball, throwing the ball,” Glenn said Monday. “Very efficient on how we wanted to operate. The O-line was outstanding, giving Geno time to be able to create some of these explosive plays down the field.”

Smith, playing in his first game for the Jets since 2016, went 19 of 24 for 215 yards. He had no touchdown throws but also had no interceptions and wasn't sacked.

“I thought he did an outstanding job," Glenn said. “Listen, there’s some things obviously that we’ve got to clean up and get better at, but man, I think he was dang near 80% throwing the ball. He put the ball where he needed to.”

The running game rolled throughout, with Breece Hall rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and Braelon Allen going for 40 yards on 10 attempts. They were both key on a 19-play drive early in the second quarter that eventually stalled, but the Jets got a field goal out of it to go up 10-3.

“That might be the longest (drive) of my career,” center Josh Myers said. “It was a long one. ... It felt like we were wearing them out.”

Other than not getting into the end zone, it was ground-and-pound offense to perfection. And that's something the Jets expected when they brought in Reich, who returned to the NFL after two years away. He spoke all offseason about how excited he was about the offense, starting with how Smith appeared to be in his prime and being able to mix in playmakers such as Hall and Allen with wide receivers Cooper, Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, along with a versatile tight ends group.

Reich and the Jets made it clear this offense will be much different on the opening drive. On third-and-9, Smith completed a short pass to Cooper, who turned it into a 30-yard gain. Two plays later, Smith handed to Sadiq, who ran for 3 yards and joined Cleveland's Ozzie Newsome (1978) as the only tight ends with touchdown runs in their NFL debut.

“We started fast,” Smith said, “and obviously we kept our foot on the gas and just tried to stay even-keeled throughout.”

The offensive line with Myers at center, left tackle Olu Fashanu, right tackle Armand Membou, left guard Dylan Parham and right guard Joe Tippmann kept things moving up front and protected Smith.

“I don’t think I got touched at all out there,” the quarterback said, “and that’s always a great sign.”

Already considered a strength of the team, the O-line also put the Jets’ game philosophy on full display.

“Tough, violent, gritty,” Glenn said. “Just a you’re-not-going-to-stop-what-we’re-trying-to-do mentality.”

Third-down efficiency. About the only thing that didn't work well for the Jets was their ability to convert on third down, going just 2 for 12 in those situations. That they went 2 for 2 on fourth down — both on the 19-play scoring drive — helped.

Pass rush. The Jets sacked Cam Ward three times, including one by No. 2 overall pick David Bailey, and one each by Will McDonald and Kingsley Enagbare. The defensive front was disruptive all game and held the Titans to 68 yards rushing.

Penalties. The Jets had eight accepted penalties called against them, including two delays of game. That's an area they'll need to clean up, especially against good opponents.

Glenn had no immediate updates on S Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin) or rookie WR Omar Cooper Jr. (ankle), who were hurt early against the Titans.

3 — The number of offensive plays the Titans ran in the second quarter, dominated by the Jets' 19-play drive. “That's probably the first time I've been a part of something like that where you were really just a fan for most of the quarter,” cornerback Brandon Stephens said.

Glenn thanked the many fans who traveled to Nashville and made it feel at times like a home game. New York has its home opener Sunday against Green Bay — and the response by the fans on the road reminded some players of another of the area sports teams' legion of followers.

“I mean, they were getting the Jets chant going in the first quarter, so exciting,” Myers said. “I just can’t help but think back to the Knicks and their postseason run last year. I know the Jets fans are going to be crazy, so I’m pumped for the home game this week.”

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New York Jets linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball (41) celebrates a fumble recovery on a kick-off to the Tennessee Titans, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

New York Jets tight end Kenyon Sadiq (16) runs in for a touchdown pursued by Tennessee Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson II (11) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) celebrates with teammate tight end Jeremy Ruckert (89) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — New Tennessee coach Robert Saleh watched the tape of the Titans in their first game with a new coaching staff and had a sharp critique.

Saleh's takes Monday:

“It was not good in any facet and in any phase of the football game."

"It has to be better.”

That was obvious to anyone watching the Titans lose a sixth straight season opener since 2020 with Saleh the third different coach in that span. They never led and wound up dominated by the New York Jets in a 23-10 loss to a team that also went 3-14 last season.

"We also have to acknowledge we have a long way to go,” Saleh said of a franchise that flipped more than half of the roster this offseason along with the new coaching staff.

Yet none of the areas that were changed showed signs of improvement with even special teams having issues. Joey Slye's opening kickoff went out of bounds for a bad omen. All-Pro returner Chimere Dike lost a fumble on a kickoff return after being cleared of a concussion with a blocker pushed into him on a punt return.

Saleh took accountability for his own mistakes. With the Jets running the ball on 10 consecutive plays to start a 19-play drive that used up nearly 12 minutes off the clock in the first half, the head coach tried to be more aggressive calling the defense in the second half looking to create more big plays.

“It is truly collective; coaches, players, and trying to find a way to get this thing a little bit better,” Saleh said.

The Titans were flagged four times for 25 yards in the rare category they did better than the Jets. One flag for too many men on the field erased a Jets' rushing touchdown, though they scored on the next play. Saleh used a timeout to avoid another penalty for 12 men on the field with the defense at its goal line.

Everything across the board.

Rookie LB Anthony Hill Jr. The 60th pick overall started and led the Titans with 16 total tackles and two passes defended making him the NFL's first rookie to post those stats in a game since at least 2000. He also was the first NFL player with those stats in a game since Chicago safety Jaquan Brisker had 17 tackles and two passes defensed Dec. 10, 2023.

Cam Ward did not turn the ball over to start his second NFL season. He also threw for only 140 yards — the fewest for any starting quarterback going into Monday night's games. Saleh noted that Ward has had seven different coordinators in seven different seasons and his coaches are trying to give him stability.

His latest NFL coach said Ward just needs time and will be growing this season and next.

“This young man is at the floor, again, of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback, but he has all the tools, the mental makeup to get to where he needs to go," Saleh said.

LB Cedric Gray missed the opener in the concussion protocol after a UTV accident. Saleh said Gray should be available against Philadelphia. Gray led the Titans with 160 tackles last season, which ranked fifth in the NFL. All-Pro returner Chimere Dike was evaluated for a concussion and cleared to return during the game.

31 — The number of NFL teams who have won at least one season opener since the start of the 2021 season with the Titans the only team in the league shut out in that span.

The Titans host Philadelphia on Sunday to wrap up two games to open a season at home for the first time since 2010. Then they face a two-game road swing at the New York Giants, then the Baltimore Ravens.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) runs for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh works on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) passes over Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)