Justin Fields Already Turning Heads, Emerging As Franchise QB

"Fields put together what one could argue was the single best game of his NFL career to this point in the Jets' Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was an example of everything the Jets hoped to see from the Ohio State product entering his fifth year in the league," Fried wrote. "Fields finished the game 16-of-22 for 218 yards and a touchdown, while adding 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His 90.4 Pro Football Focus passing grade was the second-highest in the NFL this week and the highest of Fields' entire career.

"That wasn’t the only career-best for Fields on Sunday. His 0.68 EPA per attempt was the best of his NFL career, while his 88.9 adjusted completion percentage ranked as the third-highest he’s ever recorded. Fields' 0.49 EPA per dropback currently leads all quarterbacks in the NFL after one week. It's also the highest single-game mark by a Jets quarterback since Mike White's Week 12 performance in 2022."

Fields was very impressive, both in the air and on the ground, against a loaded Steelers defense. He had perfect touch on most of his passes, including a perfectly thrown deep ball to Garrett Wilson for a touchdown.

The Jets' running game has an extra element to it, now that Fields is under center. Read options are incredibly tough to defend against Fields and Breece Hall.

If the young quarterback can keep rolling like this into Week 2, where he meets a Buffalo Bills team that struggled to stop the run in Week 1, the Jets have a chance to shock the football world and steal a victory from the loaded AFC East rival.