The team raced out to a strong start, and with a Week 7 victory over the Denver Broncos, they improved on their 4–13 record from 2021. However, despite starting 7–4 on the year, the Jets suffered a late-season collapse. Their playoff hopes were dashed as none of the quarterbacks could keep up and they fell into a brutal six-game losing streak, while also failing to score a touchdown in their final three games, and were eliminated from playoff contention after a Week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. A loss to the Miami Dolphins the following week led to the Jets finishing with a 7–10 record, which clinched New York's third consecutive season with double-digit losses. It was also the twelfth straight year the Jets did not qualify for the postseason, breaking the franchise record set from 1970–1980, as well as extending the longest active postseason drought in the NFL.[1] They also finished below .500 for the seventh consecutive season.
Despite poor offensive performances led by quarterback Zach Wilson and scoring less than 7 points in each of their final three games of the season, the defense made major improvements, ranking fourth in defense in terms of both scoring and yardage, allowing a total of only 316 points and total of 5,288 yards (3,220 passing, 2,068 rushing). The Jets also became the third team to win both Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year in the same season, with first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner respectively achieving the awards.
^ abThe Jets traded S Jamal Adams and a fourth-round selection (109th overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for S Bradley McDougald, a first-round selection (10th overall), and 2021 first- and third-round selections.
^ abcdeThe Jets traded second-, third- and fifth-round selections (35th, 69th, and 163rd overall) to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for first- and third-round selections (26th and 101st overall).
^ abcThe Jets traded second- and fifth-round selections (38th and 146th overall) to the New York Giants in exchange for a second-round selection (36th overall).
^ abThe Jets traded QB Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for second- and fourth-round selections (38th and 111th overall), and a 2021 sixth-round selection.
^ abThe Jets traded TE Chris Herndon and a sixth-round selection (184th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a fourth-round selection (117th overall).
^ abThe Jets traded LB Avery Williamson and a seventh-round selection to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a fifth-round selection (163rd overall).
^The Jets traded a conditional sixth-round selection (206th overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for QB Joe Flacco. The pick would have been elevated to the fifth round if Flacco had met playing time conditions.
^The Jets traded NT Steve McLendon and a 2023 seventh-round selection to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a sixth-round selection (206th overall).
^The Jets traded a sixth-round selection (207th overall) to the Houston Texans in exchange for LB Shaq Lawson.
^The Jets traded LB Jordan Willis and a 2021 seventh-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a sixth-round selection (207th overall).
After a somewhat slow start, the Ravens outscored the Jets, who were led by former Ravens QB Joe Flacco, 21–3 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters en route to a 24–9 season opening victory. Lamar Jackson threw for 213 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception; the first two touchdowns went to Devin Duvernay while the third one was caught by Rashod Bateman. Flacco threw for 307 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a losing effort. This was Jets' fourth straight season opening loss.
Nick Chubb scored a touchdown with 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Jets didn't have any timeouts. The Browns had a 99.9% chance of winning at that point. Two plays later Joe Flacco connected with a wide open Corey Davis to cut the lead to 6 points. The Jets recovered the onside kick and scored the game winning touchdown 9 plays later and won 31–30.[4]
Garrett Wilson scored 2 touchdowns, including the game winner, in his NFL debut.
In Zach Wilson's return after a preseason meniscus injury, the Jets went up 10–0 on Pittsburgh, before falling behind 20–10 after Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky was benched for rookie Kenny Pickett; however, the Jets would mount two touchdown drives late in the fourth quarter, with Pickett throwing two interceptions, to take a 24–20 comeback victory.
This was the Jets' second-ever win in the state of Pennsylvania, having previously gone a combined 1–16 against the Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles.[5]
The Jets scored 40 points for the first time since Week 1 of 2018 and just the third time in the past decade,[6] and snapped a 12-game losing streak against divisional opponents dating back to Week 17 of the 2019 season.[7]
This win also marked the first time the Jets recorded a winning percentage over .500 since week 1 of 2018.[8]
This win marked the first time the Jets had defeated the Packers led by Aaron Rodgers (having previously been 0–3),[9] and was their first victory over Green Bay since 2006.[10]
There were 0 touchdowns for 59 minutes until Marcus Jones returned a punt 84-yards for a touchdown with only a few seconds left. Zach Wilson had a poor performance, completing only 9 out of 22 for 77 yards. After refusing to accept responsibility for the loss in a postgame press conference, Jets head coach Robert Saleh benched Wilson for Mike White for Week 12.
Zach Wilson struggled again after completing 9 out of 18 for 92 yards and an interception. After the first half, he was benched and replaced by Chris Streveler who sparked some hope but the Jaguars defense proved to be too much for Jets to overcome and they lost 3–19. The Jets fell to 7–8, dropping them below .500 for the first time since Week 3.
Mike White was cleared to start again but struggled and was injured again. Geno Smith, who played for the Jets from 2013 to 2014, finished his revenge tour with a decisive victory and eliminated the Jets from playoff contention for the 12th straight year.
Neither team scored a touchdown, and the Jets had failed to score a touchdown in their last 3 games and had their 3rd straight double digit losing season, and 7th straight losing season.
^ abLA Chargers finished ahead of Baltimore based on conference record (7–5 vs. 6–6).
^ abMiami finished ahead of Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
^ abcNY Jets and Tennessee finished ahead of Cleveland based on conference record (5–7 vs. 4–8).
^ abNY Jets finished ahead of Tennessee based on common record (3–3 vs. 2–4 against: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay, Jacksonville).
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
