Jets say they’re ‘extremely close’ to breakthrough as 0-3 start heads into Monday night vs Dolphins

New York’s winless start has the Jets staring at a Monday night in Miami with an 0-3 mark after three close losses and a Week 2 clunker against Buffalo. The sequence has underscored a familiar NFL theme for New York teams: the need to start faster and finish stronger. The Jets were in a position to close out a game against the Buccaneers in Week 3, taking a late lead only to watch a blocked field goal be returned for a touchdown by Will McDonald IV and slip away. The game’s final minutes highlighted both the potential and the fragility of a squad still trying to find its footing.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner insisted the Jets are closer to breaking through than the record suggests, saying, “It’s extremely close.” He explained that New York is a field goal and a stop away from being 2-1, a claim rooted in tight losses to the Steelers and the Buccaneers. “In this building, mentally we’re here. Mentally, we’re still very confident. And we know what we’re capable of doing,” Gardner said after practice Friday in Florham Park. The veteran corner added that the team needs to translate that confidence into finishes where it counts.

First-year coordinator Steve Wilks has varied defenses over the opening three games, but the need to finish remains a pointed emphasis. “One of the things we have to do defensively — as you’ve seen we’ve done a lot of great things throughout these first three weeks — but we gotta find a way to finish,” Wilks said. “That’s the key thing for us on defense. One touchdown, holding those guys to five field goals, it doesn’t really mean anything when you can’t finish in the end. That’s where we are right now, and that’s our challenge this week.” The Jets rank 22nd in yards allowed per game (340.3) through three games, a figure that underscores both the progress and the gaps Wilks and his players are trying to close. Williams’ absence looms, as starting linebacker Quincy Williams is expected to be out for at least four weeks with a shoulder injury, a hurdle the defense will have to navigate while continuing to grow execution and finish drives.

“There’s a lot that comes into play, and that starts with me,” Wilks added, describing his responsibility in getting the defense into the right spots and, crucially, sparking the game-ending plays the unit has yet to produce. The Jets have shown occasional teeth, but the elusive late stop has remained out of reach in three tries.

The Jets have also been counting on improvement from their offense, and there could be a return on the horizon. Quarterback Justin Fields has been listed as a full participant in practice for the past two days after missing last week’s game with a concussion, a development that would give New York a better chance at sustained offensive pressure. Wilson, who signed a nine-figure extension in the offseason, has been clear that the team must start faster and not play catch-up for a full 60 minutes. “We all in this locker room feel like we’re close, and there’s a few plays that we’re leaving on the field here and there that have us in this hole at 0-3,” he said. “The reality of this is, that’s what we are. We’re 0-3, but we’ve gotta find a way to get over that hump this week, find a way to get on the board.” He also stressed the importance of starting fast to avoid digging a bigger hole. “We need to find a way to get seven on that first drive. We don’t want to be a second-half team … because sometimes you put yourself in too big a hole.”

The mood around the Jets has included moments of levity, too. After McDonald’s go-ahead moment in Week 3, first-year head coach Aaron Glenn celebrated on the sideline, a scene that Wilson called entertaining and indicative of a locker room that is still trying to finish games the right way. “I thought it was hilarious, man,” Wilson said of Glenn’s sideline celebration. “We’re gonna get on the board and start doing what we’re supposed to do, start winning games and we’re going to see that a little bit more, not just from [Glenn]. That was cool to see that. We just want to make sure that when he does do it, we’re gonna finish the game so he doesn’t have to deal with some of the B.S. that comes with this. But to see our coach being himself and having fun … that’s stuff you love to play for.”

Offensively, the Jets hope the return of Fields can add the spark that has been missing early. The offense has been efficient at times, but the lack of six points on the board early has forced the defense into more difficult situations. The Jets’ plan on offense remains centered on converting opportunities into touchdowns rather than settling for field goals, a theme Wilson reiterated as the team looks to start a new streak against a Dolphins squad that has its own 0-3 record but one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses when firing on all cylinders.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, also opened the season 0-3 but bring a much different challenge to the field. Led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Miami’s offense features the speed of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and the burst of rookie De’Von Achane. Gardner acknowledged the guests’ speed as a major test, joking that they possess “an Olympic track team over there, [they are] very fast,” a reminder of just how quickly a game can swing with the right play. The defense will have to contend with a wide array of weapons, including a fast-packing passing attack and a backfield that can strike in multiple ways. Gardner also noted the coaching contrast, pointing to the Dolphins’ sideline energy as a reminder that the Jets have to stay relentless for four quarters. “That’s why I get paid the big bucks,” he added with a smile, underscoring the competitive stakes of a Week 4 Monday night matchup.

The Jets will also be monitoring the return of Wilson to full health and rhythm, hoping that a clean week of practice for Fields translates into better execution when it counts. If Fields plays, New York’s offense could finally deliver the kind of early splash that has eluded the team through three games. The Jets’ preparation will also focus on eliminating penalties and mistakes that have left points off the board and forced the defense to bear undue burden late in games. With the Dolphins presenting a high-octane challenge, the outcome could hinge on the Jets finishing drives and protecting the football in a short week.