Patriots’ turnaround comes with stinging Jets reality that’s all too familiar

· New York Post

The Jets will get another reminder Sunday of how far they have to go when the Patriots come to MetLife Stadium.

New England is 12-3 one year after going 4-13. The Patriots can win the AFC East this week under first-year coach Mike Vrabel if they beat the Jets and the Bills lose to the Eagles.

Take flight with the Jets

Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off.

tRY IT NOW

The Jets? They are 3-12 and playing out the string in another disappointing year.

It’s 15 years without the playoffs and 10 years without a winning season. Those droughts get talked about plenty. But it is also 23 years since the last time they won the division.

The game this week and then next week’s finale at 11-4 Buffalo show how far the Jets have to go to close the gap in the AFC East.

Coach Aaron Glenn, who has not had the success Vrabel has had in his first year, said the Jets are not thinking about that.

“The only thing that we’re thinking about is more or less, man, going out there and competing our asses off and winning the game,” Glenn said. “That’s what’s critical for us, ending this season on a really good note against really two good opponents, two division opponents at that. One at home and one away. That’s the only thing that we’re thinking about.”

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots and Drake Maye of the New England Patriots shake hands during the second quarter of the game against the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on December 01, 2025 in Foxborough Getty Images

Glenn continues to maintain the Jets are trying to win games, though evidence suggests they are in full tank mode.

Why else would they start undrafted rookie Brady Cook at quarterback when veteran Tyrod Taylor is healthy?

For most Jets fans, draft order is the only interesting thing left to talk about.

The Jets have their own game to worry about, but Sunday afternoon’s Giants-Raiders game will be on the radar of every Jets fan as it could determine who gets the No. 1 pick and who could be a potential trading partner for the Jets before the draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars safety Eric Murray (29) sacks New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook (4) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. AP

“The only thing I’m thinking about is the Patriots right now,” Glenn said when asked about draft order. “I mean, those things handle themselves and there’s so many different scenarios that go on with that, that, I mean, as a coach why waste your time worrying about things like that? I want to go win this game. The players want to go win this game. The coaches want to go win this game. That’s all we’re thinking about.”