What’s better than an opening weekend win? An opening weekend win against a divisional opponent. What’s better than that? Doing it in walk-off style. Like a home run to the back of the bleachers, Xavier Gipson’s punt return was electric; Coach Saleh may still be running. 

While we received bad news on the injury to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Jets are 1-0 and ready to move on to Dallas. This is a team game, and each victory needs contributions up and down the roster. 

When you play a game like we did on Monday, it’s hard to pick just five players, but I’m going to give you five players who stood out to me. 

Xavier Gipson

I wrote about Xavier earlier in the preseason and his undrafted free agent story is one we can all enjoy. Although Gipson wasn’t hugely involved in the offence, his main contribution was one to remember.  His punt return sent MetLife into a rapture, and his wave goodnight while he crossed the line was about as picturesque as you get. 

According to NFL Next Gen stats, at the point he caught the ball he had a 0.8% chance of scoring a TD, and he gained 55 yards over expected. He actually covered 99.2 yards in total  when you consider his lateral movement. It was also only the third punt returned for a touchdown in OT in NFL history, and all three have been by rookies. 

It was an incredible moment for an incredible talent who had to do it the hard way. Coming in as a UDFA and being a game-winner in week one is rare. 

Jordan Whitehead

Coming into 2023, Whitehead's best season total for interceptions was two, achieved in three different seasons between 2020-2022. After just a single game this year, he already has three. That’s an incredible achievement, and considering it’s three turnovers against one of the best QBs in the league, it’s worth just that little bit more. 

The Jets played a lot of three-safety looks to counter Buffalo’s multi-TE sets, which means that Whitehead spent a fair amount of time roaming in the secondary as opposed to being in the box. The results could not have been better. 

When you combine the three interceptions with Whitehead not allowing a single catch into his coverage and not missing a single tackle, this was without doubt Jordan’s best game in a Jets uniform. If this is a taste of what’s to come, we’re in for a very exciting season. 

Quinton Jefferson

The entire defensive line could be on here. We all know that Quinnen Williams did Quinnen Williams things, and you absolutely have to mention John Franklin-Myers and his eight pressures - he remains one of the most underrated Jets on the roster - but this was an outstanding start for new Jet Quinton Jefferson who got to Josh Allen twice and generated 5 pressures of his own. 

Playing next to Williams will provide plenty of opportunities for Jefferson to get after the QB; the more players that teams dedicate to stopping Quinnen, the less they can utilise against Jefferson. 

Jefferson’s career high for sacks is 5.5, he’s already 36% of the way there this year. 

Quincy Williams

When you’re playing Buffalo you know your linebackers are going to be tested, and Quincy in particular passed the test with flying colours. 

Celebrating his return to the Jets, Williams was all over the field with the perfect blend of speed, physicality, and patience. 

According to PFF, Williams made 7 defensive stops that constituted an offensive failure, he made key tackle after key tackle and even had a PBU to his name 

Williams has the perfect blend of skills to be one of the best linebackers in football, and if the start of the year is anything to go by, he could vault into that conversation this season. 

Breece Hall

Coach Saleh said that the team was going to be smart with Breece, and that’s exactly what happened on Monday night with the second-year pro working his way back from his ACL tear. 

Racking up 127 yards on 10 attempts is not a bad night of work, especially when you force 5 missed tackles and have two plays of 15+ yards. His lung busting run of 83 yards flipped the field - and momentum - for the Jets in the second quarter. 

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Hall had 81 rushing yards over expected, that’s the 5th highest amount by any RB since the start of last season. He also hit 20mph on two occasions Monday night; he was just the third player in the NFL this week to have multiple plays where he hit that speed (Tyreek Hill & Aaron Jones). 

Is Breece back? You bet he’s back and he put the league on notice in week one.