Jets defense has looked its worth now it can truly prove itself against Lions

Aaron Glenn was in the middle of rattling off the endless list of weapons the Lions offense possesses when he acknowledged what’s at stake. This will be a revealing week, one way or the other, for his Jets defense.  Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off.“Man, this will be a good one to really check and see that barometer,” Glenn said before practice Friday, “of how we’re going to go up against a really good offense.” Though Glenn came under intense criticism for his decision-making as the Jets blew a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead in their loss to the Packers in Week 2, he deserves credit for how the defense has looked after taking over play-calling duties this year.

The unit leads the league in total defense, having allowed just 394 total yards through the first two games of the season — the first time in team history they’ve held each of their first two opponents under 200 total yards.They are also second in the NFL in both passing and rushing defense as well as seventh in scoring defense. For a defense that the Jets invested heavily in over the offseason, the early numbers are extremely promising.

But Sunday in Detroit has the potential to be a reality check. The explosive and multifaceted Lions offense — much more so than the dysfunctional Titans and crumbling Packers units — will provide the Jets with a measuring stick test that will reveal just how legitimate their defense is.With quarterback Jared Goff, whom Glenn labeled “one of the most accurate quarterbacks I’ve ever been around,” a dual-threat running back in Jahmyr Gibbs, a do-it-all receiver in Amon-Ra St.

Brown and his speedy counterpart in Jameson Williams, along with a matchup nightmare in tight end Sam LaPorta, the Lions have as much firepower as anyone in the NFL. They scored 31 points in each of their first two games. “It’s one of those things, you got a hole in the boat and you...