Jets Aim to Reverse AFC East Futility in Measuring Stick Game Against Patriots

The New York Jets are set to begin their quest to reverse years of futility within the AFC East, with a pivotal road game against the New England Patriots serving as an early measuring stick for the team's progress. Gillette Stadium has historically been a challenging venue for the Jets, who have secured only one victory there in the past 16 seasons.

Over the last decade, since 2016, the Jets have struggled significantly against their divisional opponents, holding a dismal 13-47 record. This includes a particularly poor 4-26 mark in road games within the AFC East. The last time the Jets posted a winning record in the division was in 2010, the same year they made their most recent playoff appearance.

Under head coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets have yet to secure a win against an AFC East opponent, going 0-6 last season against the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins. This season, the Jets stand at 2-3 after their first five games, with Glenn's defense showing improvement, holding three of those opponents under 200 yards.

Glenn emphasized the importance of division games but maintained a focus on the present. "Well, I would say this: we really don’t focus on what happened in the past when it comes to us, we just focus on what’s happening right now," Glenn stated. "But yes, division games are definitely crucial. Sometimes people say they count as two games, but the only thing that we’re focused on is this is the one game that we have to play, this is the one game we want to win, this is the one game that we’re prepared for and look to win. So, good team, a team that was in the Super Bowl last year, and we’re going to look forward to playing them."

Despite the historical struggles, the Jets believe this season is different, with roster improvements made by Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. Cornerback Azareye’h Thomas echoed the team's mindset of focusing on incremental progress. "It’s very important. The division games are like two games in one. It’s very important to get a win. But we’re just going to focus on being 1-0 every day, honestly. Yeah, 0-6 last year but it’s not last year. It’s a new year. We’re focused on this year and our main motto is just being 1-0."

Glenn reinforced this approach, stating, "Every game is important to us; it doesn’t matter who you play. Listen, we have a 1-0 mindset every time we go out there. So, listen, I know it’s the Patriots, I know it’s a division game, but we want to win this game just like we wanted to win the Cleveland game, and we’re going to go out there and prepare to win it."

The Jets face the challenge of competing in a division that includes the defending AFC champion Patriots and the perennial contender Bills. However, the Miami Dolphins are currently in the early stages of a rebuild, sitting at 0-5. A sweep of the Dolphins would be a significant step, though the Jets have not swept Miami since 2015, with that road win occurring in London. Their last victory in South Florida was in 2014. The most recent win in Foxborough came at the end of the 2023 season, during Bill Belichick's final game as Patriots coach. The last win in Buffalo was in the final game of the 2019 season, against a Bills team that rested its starters.

Since 2015, the Jets have not won more than two games in the division, experiencing winless seasons against the AFC East three times (2020, 2021, 2025). The team acknowledges the difficulty of their divisional record over the past decade but is determined to demonstrate a change this season.