Jets’ Offensive Coordinator Names One Clear Goal for Bills Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Sep 11, 2025 5:40 PM ET

The New York Jets are typically a defensive team, but that trend flipped on its head in their 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Was it a flash in the pan, or a sign of change under a new administration?

That question could partially be answered against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. The Bills beat the Baltimore Ravens in a 40-38 shootout on Sunday Night Football, showing that they also have a talented offense, but an exploitable defense.

If Justin Fields and company are truly a unit to be reckoned with, then they should perform well against a defense that just got gashed by a fellow run-heavy offense. In fact, they should be able to hold their own each week, regardless of the opponent.

Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand verbalized that sentiment on Thursday by laying out a specific goal, via ESPN's Rich Cimini.

"Jets OC Tanner Engstrand says the weekly goal is to have at least 8 explosive plays (16+ pass, 12+ run)," Cimini reported. "They had 11 vs Steelers."

Explosive plays are defined as ones that gain 10-plus rushing yards or 20-plus passing yards, via Yahoo! Sports. The Jets had just 25 such plays across the first five weeks of last season, via The 33rd Team.

If New York accomplishes Engstrand's goal, it would be a 180-degree change for a franchise that ranked 30th in explosive plays from 2021 through Oct. 8, 2024, via The 33rd Team. That period spanned Robert Saleh's entire tenure as head coach.

Jets OC Tanner Engstrand says the weekly goal is to have at least 8 explosive plays (16+ pass, 12+ run). They had 11 vs Steelers. #Jets pic.twitter.com/toBDen3okG
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 11, 2025

Jets' Offensive Success Could Change Franchise Trajectory

With the exception of 2015, New York has ranked 22nd or lower in offensive yards in each year since 2011, via Pro Football Reference. The team has not made the playoffs in that span and has had just one winning season, which was when it went 10-6 in that 2015 campaign.

However, the Jets have ranked top-10 in defensive yards allowed in eight of those years, meaning they were one of the 10 stingiest units. The fanbase has seen plenty of quality defenses wasted by subpar offenses, but rarely the other way around.

New York might miss the playoffs again this year, but a high-ranking offensive season with an effective performance from Fields would show that the organization's new regime is figuring out the side of the ball that its recent predecessors never could.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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