New York Preseason Builds Fresh Optimism Across Giants and Jets

Risers and fallers after Week 1 preseason highlight Mahomes standing in Sando’s tiers and Dianna’s sources cautious on Shedeur Sanders.

New York Preseason Builds Fresh Optimism Across Giants and Jets

In New York, the Jets beat the Packers 30-10 and the Giants beat the Bills 34-25, with first‑team offenses driving the scoring drives. Justin Fields led the Jets on a 66-yard opening drive before exiting, finishing three of four for 42 yards and adding 14 rushing yards. Jaxson Dart stood out in his Giants debut, completing 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards with a touchdown and showing mobility with 24 rushing yards. The night also featured a record watch at kicker and a promising step for Kansas City's rookie left tackle Josh Simmons as the Chiefs’ line looks tighter than expected. The Packers struggled on offense, while New England posted a 48-point burst that excited fans but came in a preseason setting. In Cleveland, ball security and decision making drew scrutiny for Shedeur Sanders, who threw for 138 yards with two TDs but also had missed throws and late pocket movement issues.

On the national stage, Mike Sando's quarterback tiers place Patrick Mahomes in the top tier, with Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson in lower groups, while the debate over Josh Allen versus Lamar Jackson remains unresolved. Sanders drew cautious assessments from two NFL evaluators who said his debut included solid moments but also room for improvement, especially in timing and pocket presence. The week’s results underscore how teams weigh youth against experience as they build toward the regular season.

The early week shows a trend toward evaluating young talents in real games while teams shore up up front. An improved Chiefs line, highlighted by rookie Josh Simmons, suggests Kansas City is betting on continuity around Mahomes. At the same time, New England's high scoring in a loud preseason sample hints at coaching direction and depth that could matter in late summer games. The cautious notes on Shedeur Sanders remind us that quarterback development is a long road; a few good plays do not erase flashes of inconsistency. The NFL remains a league of small margins where timing, discipline and execution determine winners as much as headlines do.

The New York games also point to a broader takeaway: teams are placing more emphasis on first‑team reps and game feel for upcoming months, not just star reputations. If the league is a classroom, Week 1 serves as a syllabus, with the real tests arriving when the pads go on for the second and third units, and the calendar flips to the regular season.

Highlights

As teams test lineups and schemes, the season will separate summer hype from real capability.