New York Jets: Leveraging First-Round Wins to Prep for Divisional Showdown



The New York Jets, fresh off their first playoff win in over a decade, are wasting no time turning that momentum into divisional-round prep. Facing a top-seeded opponent with a dominant pass rush and a high-scoring offense, the Jets aren’t just relying on luck—they’re leaning on the lessons from their first-round victory: backup depth, quick offensive adjustments, and late-game defensive stops. New York Jets: Leveraging First-Round Wins to Prep for Divisional Showdown captures this focus—for the Jets, the first-round win wasn’t just a milestone; it was a scouting report of what works, and what needs sharpening, against elite competition. Early practice signs show intent: Aaron Rodgers is practicing against simulated blitzes, the defense is refining its mobile QB spy drills, and the staff is replaying first-round highlight reels to reinforce winning habits. For the Jets, this divisional game is about proving their playoff win was no fluke—it’s about taking the next step toward a Super Bowl run.

The defense is doubling down on the mobile QB strategies that worked in the first round, now tailored to the divisional opponent’s faster, more elusive signal-caller. Linebacker Jamien Sherwood, who excelled in spy drills against the first-round QB, is now practicing against faster backup QBs to mimic the opponent’s speed. Quinnen Williams, who recorded two tackles for loss in the first round, is working on countermoves to beat the opponent’s All-Pro left tackle—using film from his first-round success against zone-blocking schemes to refine his approach. The defense is also repping “blitz-counter drills” from the first round: when the opponent sends extra pass rushers, the Jets will drop a lineman into coverage to stop deep passes, a tactic that forced two interceptions earlier. New York Jets: Leveraging First-Round Wins to Prep for Divisional Showdown highlights this continuity. “We know what works—now we just need to tweak it for a faster QB,” Sherwood said. The defense’s first-round blueprint is the foundation for their divisional game plan.

The New York Jets’ offense is building on its first-round resilience, focusing on quick releases and short-yardage efficiency to beat the opponent’s pass rush. Aaron Rodgers, who used 1.1-second quick releases to avoid sacks in the first round, is now practicing with a 1-second goal—aiming to get the ball out before the opponent’s edge rushers can break through. Backup Zach Wilson, who stepped in for a key drive in the first round, is getting extra reps in red-zone scenarios, in case Rodgers needs a breather. Breece Hall, who converted two critical 3rd-and-1 plays in the first round, is refining his power-running technique to counter the opponent’s run-stopping front, which allows just 2.8 yards per carry. In practice, the offense converted 80% of its short-yardage attempts, a jump from 65% in the first round. New York Jets: Leveraging First-Round Wins to Prep for Divisional Showdown underscores this growth. “The first round taught us we can win with efficiency—now we need to be even sharper,” offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said. The offense’s first-round habits are becoming second nature, critical for beating an elite defense.

The coaching staff’s first-round adjustment playbook is getting an upgrade for the divisional round, ensuring the New York Jets stay ahead of the opponent’s schemes. When the first-round opponent took an early lead, the staff called a quick screen pass to Hall that sparked a comeback—and now they’re adding “option screens” to keep the divisional opponent’s pass rush off balance. They’re also refining the “playoff communication system” from the first round: captains like C.J. Mosley will use double-handed signals to avoid crowd noise (the divisional game is an away game, with a louder crowd). Clock management, which was flawless in the first round’s final minutes, is now being practiced with tighter timeframes—simulating 2-minute drills with just one timeout, to prepare for the opponent’s fast-paced offense. New York Jets: Leveraging First-Round Wins to Prep for Divisional Showdown shows how the staff’s prep builds confidence. “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel—we just have to make it better,” head coach Robert Saleh said. For the Jets, every first-round adjustment is a building block for the divisional game.

Fan engagement for the divisional round is amplifying the energy from the first round, turning even an away game into a home-style advantage for the New York Jets. The team’s “January Ready” campaign is back, with 5,000 fans traveling to the opponent’s city—many wearing the same rally towels from the first round. Before the game, fans will host a “Jet Nation Rally” outside the stadium, with former players joining to hype the crowd. During the game, the Jets’ social media team will share fan videos on the stadium’s big screen, just like they did in the first round—creating a sense of unity even miles from home. After the first-round win, players credited fans for their energy, and now that support is growing. New York Jets: Leveraging First-Round Wins to Prep for Divisional Showdown highlights how fan support fuels the team. “The first round’s crowd felt like a 12th man—now we need that again,” Rodgers said. For the Jets, fan energy isn’t just a bonus—it’s a critical part of their playoff strategy.

Looking ahead, the New York Jets’ divisional-round game is a test of how well they can turn first-round success into sustained excellence. If they stick to their blueprint—mobile QB spy drills, quick releases, and sharp adjustments—they have a shot to upset the top seed. Even if things get tough, they have the confidence of a playoff win to fall back on. Rodgers summed it up: “The first round taught us we belong here—now we need to prove we can go further.” New York Jets: Leveraging First-Round Wins to Prep for Divisional Showdown isn’t just a title; it’s a promise. For fans, it’s a chance to watch their team make history. For the Jets, it’s a chance to turn a playoff win into a championship run—one play, one adjustment, one win at a time.