Football season is officially underway in New York.
The New York Jets opened their 2026 preseason Thursday night at MetLife Stadium against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, marking the return of NFL football to the Meadowlands.
Preseason football is different. Wins and losses matter, but they aren’t necessarily the main story. These games are about the battles happening throughout the roster — who will earn a spot on the final 53, who will land on the practice squad and who may be playing their final snaps with the team.
And while fans only get to see the game itself, it’s important to remember that Thursday night was just one piece of a much larger evaluation. The Jets and Buccaneers had already spent the week practicing and competing against each other. The game simply gave the rest of us a chance to see some of those battles play out under the lights.
Still, after months without NFL football, there was something nice about walking back into MetLife and feeling football in the air again.
The World Cup Left Its Mark on MetLife
Interestingly enough, the last major sporting event at MetLife Stadium wasn’t football at all.
It was the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
And there are still reminders of the tournament everywhere.
One of the biggest differences I noticed actually came before reaching the stadium. The transportation process through Secaucus Junction has changed, with fans now receiving wristbands as part of the process of traveling to MetLife — something that wasn’t part of the normal Jets game-day experience in previous years.
The system was used during the World Cup, and it appears at least part of that infrastructure has remained. There also seemed to be significantly more staff stationed throughout Secaucus Junction helping move fans toward the stadium.
Once you arrive at MetLife, the World Cup’s footprint is still noticeable. FIFA advertisements and imagery remain around the American Dream complex across from the stadium, and there are still remnants of World Cup branding around the main entrance to MetLife.
The World Cup may have left town, but it certainly left its mark on the Meadowlands.
Jets Fans Aren’t Expecting Miracles
As we usually do at The Way Network, I spent some time before kickoff talking with fans about what they expect from the Jets this season.
The overall sentiment?
Keep expectations in check.
There were certainly optimistic fans. A few threw out predictions around 10 wins and believe the Jets could surprise people this season.
But most seemed to understand where the organization currently stands. The phrase that kept coming to mind was “bridge year.”
There wasn’t an overwhelming expectation that the Jets would suddenly become contenders in 2026. Instead, many fans seemed prepared for another developmental season while the organization continues trying to build toward something sustainable.
With Geno Smith not taking the field Thursday, fans also didn’t get an opportunity to watch their starting quarterback.
The season hasn’t even started yet, but Jets fans might want to buckle up. It could be a bumpy ride.
Cade Klubnik Looks the Part
If there was one offensive player who immediately caught my attention, it was Cade Klubnik.
Klubnik looked comfortable.
He looked poised. He looked sharp. Most importantly for a young quarterback getting his first taste of NFL action, he didn’t look overwhelmed by the moment.
There were no noticeable happy feet in the pocket. He appeared composed and willing to let plays develop.
Klubnik completed 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards, finishing without a touchdown or interception while taking one sack.
It’s obviously far too early to make declarations about what Klubnik eventually becomes, but the early signs were encouraging.
For at least one night, he looked like someone who could potentially develop into a future starter for the Jets.
Brandon Allen Makes His Presence Felt
Another player who jumped off the field was Brandon Allen.
Allen finished with four carries for 44 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 31-yard run.
And the first thing you notice about him is his size.
Allen is an imposing running back. Watching him accelerate once he gets that frame moving is impressive, and his touchdown run offered a glimpse of what he could potentially bring to the Jets’ backfield.
Calling anyone the next Derrick Henry would obviously be premature, but Allen has the kind of size that immediately makes you think of that bruising style of running back.
After dealing with injuries for much of last season, Allen is definitely someone I’ll be watching throughout the remainder of the preseason.
Jets Defense Shows Some Bright Spots — But Still Needs Takeaways
Defensively, Jarius Monroe was one of the players who stood out.
Monroe was constantly around the football, finishing with seven total tackles, including four solo tackles and a tackle for loss.
Mori Bamba also made his presence felt in the secondary, recording four passes defended.
Both players were flying around the field, which is exactly what you want to see during the preseason.
For players fighting for jobs, every snap matters.
One thing the Jets still need, however, is takeaways.
Creating turnovers was a major issue for this defense last season, and developing a mentality of attacking the football is something that can begin during the preseason. Even when the games don’t count in the standings, building those habits does.
Brady Cook Takes Early Lead in QB3 Battle
One of the more interesting roster competitions Thursday night was between Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the third quarterback spot.
After one game, I’d give Cook the advantage.
Zappe had a rough night, with his first drive ending in a pick-six. He was also sacked twice and finished with two interceptions.
Cook, meanwhile, completed 9 of 15 passes for 108 yards.
Neither performance is going to single-handedly determine a roster spot, especially considering how much evaluation happens during practice, but if we’re judging strictly from Thursday night’s game, Cook moved himself ahead in the competition.
A Mizzou Reunion at MetLife
There was also an interesting college football connection buried inside the quarterback story.
Former Missouri quarterbacks Connor Bazelak and Brady Cook both saw action Thursday night.
Long before they were trying to carve out NFL careers, Bazelak and Cook shared a quarterback room at Mizzou, with Bazelak once serving as the Tigers’ starter while Cook waited behind him.
Years later, both found themselves on the same NFL preseason field at MetLife Stadium.
For anyone familiar with their history at Missouri, it was a cool full-circle moment.
Questions Remain Around Baker Mayfield
On the Tampa Bay side, Baker Mayfield didn’t play Thursday night.
But his name still came up quite a bit during my conversations with Buccaneers fans before the game.
What surprised me was that the reaction to Mayfield wasn’t universally celebratory following his new contract.
A few Buccaneers fans made it clear that, in their eyes, Mayfield still has something to prove.
Their message was essentially: He got paid. Now earn it.
I expected the overwhelming sentiment to be that Mayfield had already done enough to deserve the commitment Tampa Bay made to him. Instead, at least among some of the fans I spoke with, there is still an expectation that the quarterback needs to take another step.
That will be an interesting storyline to follow once the games actually begin to count.
Football Is Back
In the end, Tampa Bay walked away with a 24–16 victory.
It was a typical preseason football game. There were mistakes. There were flashes. There were players most casual fans have never heard of making plays that could ultimately help determine whether they have an NFL job a few weeks from now.
That’s what makes preseason football interesting.
Everyone out there is fighting for something.
For some, it’s a starting position. For others, it’s a place on the 53-man roster. For others, it’s a practice-squad opportunity or simply putting enough good film together to earn a phone call from another organization.
The World Cup banners might still be hanging around MetLife Stadium, but Thursday night the building belonged to football again.
It was a warm summer night in New Jersey, the pads were popping again and another NFL season was beginning to take shape.
Football is back, ladies and gentlemen.
D’Andre McKenzie — The Way Network