Week 3 brings a fiery reunion to Ford Field, but don’t expect any pleasantries when Lions coach Dan Campbell welcomes his former defensive coordinator and protégé, Aaron Glenn, back to town. Both the Detroit Lions and New York Jets are sitting at 1-1, and Campbell is not mincing words about what’s coming, calling this matchup with Glenn’s Jets a “knockout, 60-minute brawl.”
Glenn’s Return and Campbell’s Warning
Glenn, who spent four years as Campbell’s defensive coordinator in Detroit, is bringing his New York Jets defense to face his old squad for the first time. Campbell made it crystal clear his players know exactly what they are up against. “Our players know exactly what’s coming in here because the defensive coordinator was here for (four) years,” Campbell stated. “Turn on the tape. … This is not going to be a trap game.” You know Campbell, right? He’s all about that grit, and he’s predicting a slugfest. FanDuel Sportsbook currently lists the Lions as 6.5-point favorites in this Week 3 showdown, while their Super Bowl odds are set at +1900.
Jets Defense: Aggressive and Vulnerable
Glenn’s Jets defense might not be running the exact same scheme he did in Detroit, rocking a 3-4 base with a 2-4 subpackage, but the core principles are exactly what you’d expect: stop the run, get in the offense’s face, and take the fight to them. This defense ranks highly in most stats, including allowing a league-low 197 total yards per game this season. On film, these guys just fly to the football on both run and pass plays. They clog up rushing lanes with big space occupiers and send downhill linebackers, with the range to chase plays sideline to sideline. Against the pass, they’re playing press-man at the line, comfortable in man or zone schemes, and their defensive backs spread out coverages to the sidelines.
But that aggressiveness, while a huge part of their 2026 success, also opens them up to some weak spots. For example, their defensive tackles are asked to occupy multiple offensive linemen, which frees up lanes for their linebackers. That means interior offensive linemen for the Lions are going to have to win their one-on-one battles or run schemes like Duo or pulling guards. The Jets also boast the fastest “get off” at the snap in the league, clocking in at 0.71 seconds. Jared Goff better be making quick decisions. However, their time to pressure is 2.69 seconds, ranking 21st in the NFL, which tells you they can get stuck on blocks. That’s a window of opportunity for a decisive quarterback.
What’s Next for This Brawl
This Week 3 battle isn’t just about a coaching reunion, it’s about two 1-1 teams looking to establish some early season momentum. With the Jets’ aggressive defense laying it all on the line, and Campbell’s Lions geared up for a “knockout” fight, this game promises to be an intense, full-throttle contest where every decision and every block will matter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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