Jets are wasting Geno Smith's great start to season
Geno Smith of the Jets throws a pass during the first half against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 20. Credit: Jim McIsaac
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Geno Smith isn’t interested in talking about his start to the season, even if his play in the Jets’ first three games has forced his critics to remain silent.
Smith didn’t care to talk about it in front of cameras during his weekly news conference or afterward in front of his locker. That brief conversation with one reporter lasted less than 20 seconds before Smith walked away. The gist of it was that he doesn’t “hear” critics.
“All my friends are my friends,” Smith told Newsday. “I don’t know any critics.”
Smith is no stranger to criticism, though. His on-field performance and off-field troubles with the law have been well documented. It’s unclear if that’s what’s bothering him or whether he’s upset that the Jets have lost their last two games. Either way, he is saying very little right now, but his play is saying a lot.
Statistically speaking, Smith is doing things no other quarterback in the Jets’ 67-year history has done to start a season.
He has completed 77 of 102 passes for 783 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. His completion percentage (75.5) and passer rating (110.0) are the best in franchise history through the first three games.
Smith has to take pride in that.
Or not.
“I just want to do my job to the best of my ability,” he said. “Trust the guys around me, trust my coaches, and just do my job.”
Smith is excelling in every area. His laser-like focus, composure and footwork in the pocket and the confidence that he has in himself and his teammates have stood out. He has exceeded the expectations of anyone other than himself after being acquired from the Raiders.
The Jets’ quarterback play was so subpar last season that anything would have been a step up, but the passing game has taken a giant leap with Smith.
He already has thrown for more yards than Tyrod Taylor did in six games last season and Brady Cook in five. Smith needs 477 passing yards to surpass Justin Fields’ total in nine games.
All of this makes the last two losses — by a total of 10 points — even tougher for the Jets.
There are going to be games when Smith isn’t as sharp or effective. The Jets, who believe they have the talent to be a playoff team, could end up ruing their failure to capitalize while their quarterback was playing at this extremely high level.
Smith will have to continue his masterful play on Sunday against the Bears, one of the NFL’s best offenses. In last week’s 31-24 loss in Detroit, the Jets showed they can stand toe-to-toe with a high-powered offense, and Smith was a main reason. He led them back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, completing 15 of 17 passes for 156 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
The Jets’ hopes of winning ended when Smith was sacked and fumbled in the final minute. He was a good leader, shouldering the blame for coughing up the football and not blaming anyone for a missed assignment.
Overall, Smith completed 31 of 37 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. His 83.8 completion percentage was the highest in franchise history for a quarterback with at least 20 attempts. He also recorded the Jets’ first 300-yard passing game since Aaron Rodgers in Week 14 of the 2024 season.
“I’m focused on the Bears,” Smith said. “I’m not really focused on that last game.”
His tune might be different if the team were 2-1 or 3-0. The Jets are showing significant progress this season, but they’re frustrated that they have little to show for it.
“We’re all upset about it,” receiver Garrett Wilson said. “We definitely all feel like we should be in a better spot than where we’re at, sitting at 1-2. We don’t feel good about it no matter what.”
Wilson is Smith’s favorite target, naturally. The two have connected 21 times for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson believes this is just the beginning for the duo and that there will be better things coming for the Jets.
“It’s been awesome, but I look forward to what we’re about to do in the future,” Wilson said. “We both feel like we haven’t done nothing yet, and we just want to find a way to put our team in the best situation.
“At the end of the day, we play big roles in this team. We want to win games. We want to win the Super Bowl. We want to make it to the playoffs.”
That’s what makes these losses so difficult. The Jets finally are getting terrific quarterback play and have little to show for it. Smith’s closest friends and harshest critics can agree on that.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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