3 takeaways from Jets' season finale
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis (22) falls over New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood (44) as Davis scores a touchdown on a pass from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (11) in the first half of an NFL football game on Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Credit: AP/Seth Wenig
ORCHARD PARK — Aaron Glenn’s team helped close out Highmark Stadium and made Jets fans and Bills fans happy. Here are three takeaways — one fewer than the Jets had in 17 games — from their season-ending 35-8 loss to the Bills:
1. They did something no other team has done
The Jets became the first team in NFL history to go an entire season without an interception. It’s a remarkable achievement, one that only the Jets could pull off.
“That’s never something you want to be in the record books for,” edge rusher Jermaine Johnson said. “I’m on the defense. Maybe if I get to the quarterback more, at a more violent fashion, he throws a bad ball, we get a pick. So that’s just as much on me as it is in the back end, as it is just coaches.”
The Jets hold two other records that will be tough to break. They recorded the fewest takeaways in a season (four). Their 17 games without an interception is the longest stretch ever, even when two-season spans are included.
The 2018 49ers held the record for fewest interceptions (two) and total takeaways (seven) in a season before the Jets shattered both marks.
2. We’re not saying the Jets were tanking, but . . .
When Aaron Glenn said Brady Cook “gives us the best chance to win,” that raised eyebrows. It’s hard to justify that. Wanting to evaluate Cook is fair, but a host of regular Jets did not play in Sunday’s finale.
The reality is the Jets were trying to secure the best draft pick possible — and they did. They will draft second in April. Their fans wouldn’t have been happy if they had won and dropped in the draft.
With all due respect to the offensive line, Jeremy Ruckert and some defensive starters, the Jets used some players and lineups that you would see in the preseason.
The Jets’ starting secondary included cornerbacks Ja’Sir Taylor and Samuel Womack and safeties Malachi Moore and Keidron Smith, with Tre Brown playing nickel on the opening drive. Only Moore started for the Jets this season. Womack and Smith made their Jets debuts and Brown played on defense for the first time after playing only on special teams.
3. This was an all-time bad season
Some numbers that sum up the sorry state of affairs of this Jets season:
* Garrett Wilson’s 395 receiving yards led the Jets. He hasn’t caught a pass since Oct. 12. It’s the lowest total to lead the Jets in franchise history.
* Mason Taylor’s 44 catches led the Jets. He hasn’t played since Dec. 7. It’s the second fewest to lead the team over the last 43 years.
* Justin Fields’ seven touchdown passes led the Jets. It was one fewer than Patriots quarterback Drake Maye threw against the Jets this season in 55 pass attempts.
* Fields’ seven touchdown passes is tied for the second fewest in team history in a 16- or 17-game season. Zach Wilson threw six TD passes in 2022.
* The Jets allowed 503 points, the second most in franchise history. They gave up 504 in 2021 in Robert Saleh’s first year as head coach.
On the other hand, Breece Hall became the first Jet since 2015 to reach 1,000 rushing yards. The Jets were the only team this season to start the same five players across the offensive line. It’s the first time they did that since 2012.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
