It finally happened. For the first time in 364 days, the New York Jets defense actually picked off a pass, breaking an almost year-long drought that had become an NFL punchline. Safety Andre Cisco was the hero, snagging a throw from Will Howard early in the second quarter of their Week 2 preseason game against the Steelers. This wasn’t some minor footnote, folks, this was a massive weight lifted off the shoulders of a franchise that desperately needed to see their defense make a play on the ball.
The 364-Day Interception Nightmare Is OVER
Think about that: 364 days. Almost a full calendar year since the Jets last put a stop to an opposing team’s drive with an interception. That last one came way back on August 22, 2025, when Malachi Moore snagged a pick off Kyle McCord of the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter of a game. This time, Cisco snatched the ball from Will Howard just inside the 15-yard line, turning the tide early in the second quarter. Sure, it was Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason, so “unofficially” it doesn’t count for the regular season stats. But for a team that saw opponents throw 13 interceptions against them in the 2025 regular season, and had Geno Smith, 2026 starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, throw 17 alone while with the Raiders, actually getting one felt like a miracle. This is the same team that holds the dubious distinction of being the only one in NFL history, since 1933, to go a full season without a single interception. Yeah, that kind of history.
One Pick Is Good, Two Picks Is A Party
You know what they say about turnovers, right? They come in bunches! And wouldn’t you know it, the Jets weren’t done in that second quarter. Just when everyone was still buzzing about Cisco’s play, Samuel Womack decided he wanted a piece of the action too. Womack picked off Will Howard for a second time in the very same quarter! That’s two interceptions from the same quarterback in one quarter after going 364 days without any. Can you believe it? The defensive backs must have been feeling themselves after that, and frankly, who can blame them? It was a much-needed shot of confidence for a unit that’s been under intense scrutiny.
While these don’t count towards the official 2026 regular season tally, these plays are a huge mental hurdle cleared. The Jets absolutely need to find one in the regular season to avoid repeating the infamous 2025 goose egg. But for now, they can at least celebrate being on the right side of the turnover battle for the first time in what feels like forever. The next step? Carry this momentum into the next preseason game and then, more importantly, into the actual season opener. Let’s see if this early trend for the Jets means they’ve finally learned how to get their hands on the ball when it matters most.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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