Jets Can Boost Playoff Hopes by Stopping Patriots' Seven-Year Streak

Finally beating Bill Belichick and Co. may be just what Gang Green needs

Ending one drought would go a long way in helping end another.

The New York Jets last qualified for the NFL Playoffs in 2010 when Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez were still roaming the Meadowlands. It's the longest postseason drought of any organization across America's four major professional team sports leagues.

The road back to the postseason likely involves posting at least one victory over the AFC East rival New England Patriots — something that the Jets haven't accomplished since 2015 when Ryan Fitzpatrick was taking the snaps. Even with their win over the Pats, those Jets missed out on the playoffs via tiebreaker.

Since that December 27 day when Fitzpatrick hit Eric Decker for a game-winning 6-yard scoring strike in overtime, Gang Green has yet to win again against New England.

Bill Belichick's team carries a 14-game series win streak into this Sunday's meeting at MetLife Stadium. It's the seventh-longest head-to-head span of mastery in NFL history.

"Fourteen straight is unacceptable. That's unacceptable. I'm 0-2 against them. That's unacceptable," said second-year receiver Garrett Wilson during a September 19 radio interview with ESPN's Bart & Hahn Show. "I feel like that's why they brought me here, brought me and Sauce [Gardner] here and the guys here — to make things like that change. It's time we do what we get paid for."

Jets' third-year head coach Robert Saleh attempted to downplay the Pats' streak on Wednesday.

"I don’t know if 90 percent of the locker room was in there for maybe two of these losses," said Saleh.

Although the super majority of players weren't in a Jets' uniform, or even in the NFL, seven years ago, there are plenty that must remember last year's disappointment.

The Patriots completed their seventh consecutive season series sweep of the Jets with a 10-3 victory on November 20, 2022. New England broke a 3-3 tie on an 84-yard punt return touchdown by Marcus Jones with 00:05 remaining in the game.

"It’s acknowledged, it’s appreciated, we understand, but we’ve got to move on," said Saleh. "This is the 2023 Jets, and the focus is on today and finding ways to continue to get better."

Unfortunately, it's 2023 and the Patriots are still standing in the way. In order to truly "move on," as Saleh desires, the Jets must slay the beast in Week 3. Gang Green hosts the Patriots on Sunday, September 24 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS. 

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