Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Jets

The Philadelphia Eagles closed their preseason with a narrow 19–17 victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, a matchup that highlighted grit more than glamour. Most starters rested, leaving roster hopefuls to fight for their place, and it showed in a scrappy contest dominated by special teams and defensive stops. In the end, Philadelphia leaned on consistency, particularly the reliable boot of Jake Elliott, to edge out a Jets side that rallied late but fell just short.

For the Eagles, Elliott was the star of the evening, drilling four field goals that ultimately provided the cushion needed to survive the Jets’ fourth-quarter push. Rookie quarterback Kyle McCord endured a rough night, finishing 15-of-35 with 136 yards and an interception, but Montrell Johnson Jr. offered a bright spot with a 15-yard rushing touchdown that capped one of the few smooth drives Philadelphia put together. The Eagles’ formula wasn’t flashy, but it was effective enough to get the job done.

The Jets, meanwhile, experienced another chapter in their ongoing quarterback puzzle. Brady Cook went 13-of-19 for 99 yards and an interception, while Adrian Martinez added 86 yards through the air but also turned the ball over. Despite the inconsistency, the Jets found momentum in the fourth quarter behind Lawrance Toafili’s explosive 19-yard touchdown run and a gritty one-yard plunge by Donovan Edwards that cut the deficit to just two points with a little over three minutes left on the clock.

Defensively, New York found some standouts despite the loss. Rookie safety Malachi Moore made his presence felt with seven tackles and a timely interception, showcasing the type of playmaking ability that could lock him into a larger role heading into the regular season. The unit also produced one of the game’s defining moments when linebacker Dallas Gant stormed through to block a potential two-point try, preventing Philadelphia from stretching its lead and keeping the Jets within striking distance until the very end.

In the bigger picture, the game served as a final audition for depth players on both sides. The Eagles will take confidence in the steady hand of their special teams and the flashes from young contributors, while the Jets head into roster cutdowns still searching for clarity at quarterback but encouraged by the resilience shown in their late surge. It may have been just a preseason contest, but the intensity in East Rutherford made clear how much these roster hopefuls had at stake.