The New York Jets' Playoff Drought and Losing Seasons: A Look at Their Recent Standings and Struggles

Overview of the New York Jets Standings

The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team plays its home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Jets have struggled in recent years, failing to make the playoffs since the 2010 season. Their playoff drought is currently the longest active drought in the NFL. The team's lack of success has been reflected in their standings and record over the past decade.

Recent New York Jets Standings and Records

Here is a look at the Jets' year-by-year standings and records over the past five seasons:

• 2021 season: 4-13 record, 4th place in AFC East
• 2020 season: 2-14 record, 4th place in AFC East
• 2019 season: 7-9 record, 3rd place in AFC East
• 2018 season: 4-12 record, 4th place in AFC East
• 2017 season: 5-11 record, 4th place in AFC East

As these recent standings show, the Jets have languished near the bottom of their division and have posted just one winning season over the past five years. Their lack of success is a stark contrast from their early years in the late 1960s and early 1970s when they made playoff appearances in 1968 and 1969, including a Super Bowl III win in 1969.

Looking Back at Franchise History and Standings

The New York Jets were founded in 1959 as the New York Titans, an original member of the American Football League (AFL). After financial struggles, the team was purchased by a group led by Sonny Werblin and renamed the New York Jets in 1963.

The Jets went on to have success in the AFL, making playoff appearances in 1968 and 1969. This included their famous Super Bowl III upset of the heavily favored Baltimore Colts, considered one of the biggest upsets in pro football history. This win helped further legitimize the AFL and paved the way for the AFL-NFL merger.

After the 1970 merger of the AFL and NFL, the Jets competed in the AFC East division. They made the playoffs in 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2010. From 1968-1996, they posted 16 winning seasons out of 29 campaigns.

Since their loss in the 2010 AFC Championship game, however, the Jets have posted just one winning season and have not made the playoffs. Their 11 season playoff drought is three times as long as any previous drought in franchise history.

Recent Challenges Contributing to Losing Seasons

The Jets' recent string of losing seasons can be attributed to several factors:

• Inability to find a franchise quarterback. The team has struggled to find stability at the quarterback position since Mark Sanchez's decline after 2010.
• Coaching and management turnover. The team has had 4 head coaches and 5 general managers since 2011.
• Poor drafting. Several high draft picks have failed to live up to expectations.
• Lack of consistency and discipline. Locker room conflicts, off-field issues, and penalties have plagued recent teams.
• Tough divisional opponents. Competing in a division with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills presents a major challenge.

For the Jets to get out of their rut of losing seasons and escape the bottom of the AFC East standings, they will need to build a solid foundation starting with leadership, quarterback play, and an improved roster.

Hopes for Improved Standings in 2022 and Beyond

There are some reasons for cautious optimism when it comes to the Jets’ future standings and competitiveness:

• Promising new young talent like QB Zach Wilson, WR Elijah Moore, and CB Sauce Gardner
• Hirings of head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas in recent years
• Strong 2022 NFL Draft class addressing key needs
• More manageable 2022 schedule with just 6 games against 2021 playoff teams
• Returning players from injuries
• Benefitting from having one of the easiest 2022 schedules in the NFL

While the Jets are unlikely to go from 4 wins to playoff contention immediately, the team appears to be taking steps in the right direction. The Jets will hope to continue improving and string together multiple winning seasons for the first time in over a decade. Significant progress will be needed to bring consistent respectability back to the franchise.

Conclusion

The New York Jets have experienced a steep decline over the past decade, with just one winning season and no playoff berths since 2010. Years of coaching changes, poor drafting, quarterback instability, and a lack of discipline have resulted in the Jets becoming perennially one of the worst teams in the NFL standings. The team shows some signs of turning things around behind new leadership, young talent, and an easier 2022 schedule. But Jets fans know not to get their hopes up too high until they start seeing sustained success translate to the win column. After 11 straight seasons out of the playoffs, the Jets have a lot of work to do before they can return to contending for the postseason. Improved standings and playoffs are the standards the franchise will need to meet in the coming seasons to end their frustrating losing culture.

FAQs

When was the last time the Jets made the playoffs?

The Jets last made the NFL playoffs in 2010, when they lost in the AFC Championship game to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This ended a streak of two straight appearances in the AFC Championship game under head coach Rex Ryan.

How many Super Bowl appearances do the Jets have?

The Jets have made just one Super Bowl appearance in their history. They won Super Bowl III in 1969, considered one of the biggest upsets in NFL history, as they defeated the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 16-7.

Who is the Jets starting QB in 2022?

The Jets starting quarterback in 2022 is expected to be second-year player Zach Wilson. Wilson was the #2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Have the Jets ever had the #1 overall draft pick?

Yes, the Jets have had the #1 overall pick twice in their history. They drafted quarterback Joe Namath #1 overall in 1965. More recently, they drafted quarterback Sam Darnold #1 overall in 2018.

What was the Jets record in 2020?

In 2020, the Jets posted a record of 2-14, the worst record in the NFL. This led to them earning the #2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, which they used to select Zach Wilson.