New York Jets: 3 Big takeaways from Preseason Week 1

The New York Jets opened their preseason against the Atlanta Falcons, and it was a solid performance all around — better than most expected.

Going into the preseason opener, not much was expected of the New York Jets. Let’s face it, many just hoped health wouldn’t become a prevailing issue. Early on it did look like it might be a huge problem, but it didn’t become that big of an issue.

So what did we see from the Jets in this game? We saw a lot of things. We saw a variety on offense that we didn’t see in the past few years. We saw some good plays by rookies and veterans, and we saw tight ends get in the action. Yes, you read that correctly!

Let’s not overreact to a preseason game. Proper perspective needs to be in order here. However, the Jets did look good in the first half.

The Jets offense stalled a little bit in the second half, but it’s ok. The defense did hold up their end of the bargain for the entire game. It didn’t matter who was in for the defense. They were good against the run and held their own against the pass.

It’s the first preseason game, so let’s ease up on the expectations. However, let’s take a look at the biggest takeaways from this game.

3. Sam Darnold shows talent early

Early on in the game, Sam Darnold showed mobility, accuracy, and being able to throw on the move. He made good decisions, and he also kept his eyes downfield. He ran when he had to, but made the right reads and went through his progressions. He didn’t look fazed by it being his first game in the NFL, and he might be well on his way to starting Week 1.