Jets’ Offense Sparks Early in Preseason as Fields, Engstrand Shine vs. Packers

New York Jets’ Preseason Kickoff: Tanner Engstrand’s Offense Shows Early Sparks Against Packers

When the New York Jets walked into Lambeau Field for their preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, all eyes were locked on one man’s vision — offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. It wasn’t just another preseason game; for Engstrand, it was a litmus test for how his new-look offense would operate under live-fire conditions. After a string of practices that could only be described as sluggish, he was itching to see whether his first-team offense could flip the switch when it really mattered.

And flip it they did.

From the moment Justin Fields and the starters touched the ball, the tone was unmistakable. This wasn’t the hesitant, stop-and-go rhythm the Jets had been dragging through camp. This was crisp, balanced, and most importantly — dangerous.

The Drive That Set the Stage

The opening series was more than just points on the board; it was a statement. Fields, making his preseason debut in Jets green, orchestrated a 10-play, 70-yard scoring march that chewed up over five minutes of game clock. The kind of drive that makes defensive coordinators mutter under their breath.

• Early Escape: On the third play from scrimmage, Fields faced a third-and-5. A quick read, a snap decision, and a six-yard strike kept the chains moving. No three-and-out here — just composure under pressure.

• Mixing It Up: A second-and-10 saw Fields connect with fullback Andrew Beck for a 12-yard gain. Next snap? Rookie running back Braelon Allen broke loose for 14 yards.

• Back-to-Back Explosives: Fields went right back to Beck, this time for 16 yards, pushing the Jets deep into Packers territory. Three straight plays, three big gains, and suddenly the defense was scrambling to adjust.

A few plays later, on third-and-5, Fields tucked the ball and broke free for a 13-yard touchdown run. The pocket collapsed, the play looked doomed, but Fields’ instincts turned chaos into points. That’s the beauty of having a dual-threat quarterback — even when the play design collapses, the drive doesn’t have to.

What Engstrand Wanted to See

If you had asked Engstrand to draw up his perfect opening drive, this one would be alarmingly close.

• Multiple weapons involved in the passing game.

• The run game generating chunk plays, not just grinding for three yards a pop.

• A QB who could hurt you through the air and on the ground.

Fields checked every one of those boxes. Beck, the fullback who’s more Swiss Army knife than traditional bruiser, became an early focal point. Allen showed he could provide burst. And Fields? He reminded everyone that his legs are just as much a threat as his arm.

In short — the Jets’ offense looked… fun.

Why This Matters More Than the Score

Yes, the Jets went on to win 30-10 in what was, technically speaking, an “exhibition Week 1 victory.” But preseason scores fade from memory. What sticks is the feel — the sense of what a team can be when things click.

For weeks, the Jets’ offensive storylines out of camp were all about inconsistency. Misreads. Timing issues. Drops. And while no one in the building would claim one preseason drive erases all of that, it’s the kind of performance that can set a tone for the rest of August.

Think about it:

• If you’re a wide receiver, you now know the ball is going to be spread around.

• If you’re a running back, you see a commitment to mixing in the ground attack.

• If you’re the QB, you’ve got proof the scheme works under game conditions.

Breaking Down the Key Takeaways

Here’s what stood out from Engstrand’s debut as OC:

1. Balanced Attack – The Jets didn’t lean too hard on one aspect. Fields threw smart, short-to-intermediate passes while Allen and the ground game ripped off gains.

2. Situational Composure – Converting early third downs is the heartbeat of sustaining drives. The Jets nailed it.

3. Playmaker Usage – Fullbacks aren’t always offensive stars in today’s NFL, but Beck looked like a featured chess piece here.

4. Quarterback Mobility – That 13-yard TD wasn’t a designed QB run, but it shows Fields’ ability to improvise is alive and well.

5. Confidence Builder – After weeks of meh practices, the starters got a much-needed jolt of belief.

The Bigger Picture for 2025

Engstrand didn’t come to New York to run a middle-of-the-pack offense. His vision is to turn the Jets into a unit that can dictate games instead of reacting to them. That means more early-down success, more unpredictability, and more plays where the defense genuinely doesn’t know what’s coming next.

This opening drive against Green Bay was the first real-world look at how that vision might translate. And while the playbook was still kept vanilla — no coordinator is going to tip their full hand in Week 1 of the preseason — the hints were there.

• You saw motion before the snap, keeping defenders guessing.

• You saw Fields being asked to make quick reads, avoiding the long-developing plays that can sink drives.

• You saw an emphasis on chunk plays, rather than nickel-and-dime progress.

That’s not just good football in August. That’s the kind of DNA you need in December when games really matter.

Why Fans Should Be Excited

Jets fans have been here before — preseason hope is nothing new in New York. But this year, the optimism feels less about hype and more about execution. It’s one thing to talk about having a balanced offense; it’s another to watch it hum down the field against a defense actually trying to stop you.

Fields’ chemistry with Beck, Allen’s burst, and the protection up front all fed into that first drive’s success. And while it’s way too early to start printing playoff tickets, that opening possession was proof the foundation is solid.

Final Word

For Tanner Engstrand, Saturday’s 30-10 preseason win wasn’t about the scoreboard — it was about validation. Validation that his offensive blueprint works. Validation that Justin Fields can run it with poise and explosiveness. Validation that, after a frustrating training camp stretch, the Jets can step onto the field and look like they belong in the playoff conversation.

It’s still August. Mistakes will happen, defenses will adjust, and the offense will face plenty tougher challenges. But if the Jets’ Week 1 preseason opener was a sneak peek at what’s to come, Engstrand and company have given fans plenty of reason to keep their expectations high.