In Week 11 of the 2022 season, the New England Patriots and New York Jets will meet for the second time this season.
The Patriots won their most recent matchup in Week 8, 22-17 victory.
Being divisional rivals in the AFC East, these two teams have a storied history that started way back in 1960. Both teams were a part of the former American Football League.
Their first matchup came in September 1960, as the New England Patriots (then known as the Boston Patriots) defeated the New York Jets (then known as the New York Titans), 28-24.
Jets vs Patriots: Early days in the 1960s-1970s
Throughout the 1960s, both teams had successful winning seasons. The Jets won the AFL Championship in 1968, a title that the Patriots failed to win. The Jets also won the Super Bowl in the same year.
The Patriots, did however win the AFL Eastern Division Championship in 1963, the Jets also won the Division Championship in 1968 and 1969.
The New York Titans/Jets held a 12-7-1 record over the Boston/New England Patriots during their time in the AFL.
As the AFL merged with the NFL in 1970, both teams successes continued into the 70s. New York dominated the early part of the decade, going 10–2 from 1970–75, while New England went 6–2 from 1976–79. New England won the 1978 AFC East Divisional Championship, a championship New York would win only 20 years later.
The Patriots had some dominating wins over the Jets throughout the 70s. On October 18th, 1976, New England hosted New York on Monday Night Football. New England quarterback Steve Grogan along with running backs Andy Johnson, Don Calhoun and Sam Cunningham combined for 330 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a 41-7 New England win. In that same season, Jets quarterback Joe Namath threw six interceptions against the Patriots in a November game. The Jets also lost three fumbles, resulting in a 38-24 Patriots win.
In the October 29, 1978 game the Patriots held a 48-7 third quarter lead which ultimately turned into a 55-21 win for the Patriots. On September 1979, New England’s quarterback Steve Grogan set a Patriots record with five touchdown passes in a 56-3 New England win, a record that stood until 2007.
Jets vs Patriots: 1980s – 1990s
The 1980s and 1990s saw highs and lows for both teams. The New England Patriots held a 19-15 record over the Jets from 1980 to 1996. New England also appeared in Super Bowls XX and XXXI, in which they failed to win. In the early 80s and 90s the Jets had five playoff appearances but fell to the bottom of the league by the mid-90s.
The first playoff game between the two teams came on December 28th, 1985.
The Jets held a 7-3 lead in the second quarter however the Patriots managed to score 23 points to win the game, 26-14. This was New England’s first playoff win in the NFL. The Patriots would advance to Super Bowl XX where they lost to the dominating 1985 Chicago Bears team.
Reignited rivalry in the Late 90s
New England Patriots head coach Bill Parcells’ contract was set to expire after the 1996 season. Rumors began swirling that Parcells was seeking a coaching job elsewhere. After the Patriots appearance in Super Bowl XXXI, Parcells resigned.
Since the Jets could not sign Parcells as their head coach, due to contractual obligations, they instead hired him as a consultant. The Jets named Bill Belichick, who had followed Parcells from New England, as their interim head coach.
Just under a week later, the Patriots and Jets reached an agreement which allowed Parcells to coach the Jets, Belichick then became the Jets assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. New England hired San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, Pete Carroll to be their head coach.
For the first time since the 80s, New England and New York were in a fight for the top of the AFC East Division. The 1998 season for the Jets was one of their most successful ever, with a 12-4 record they won the division.
They also defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional playoff round before losing to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game. New England’s 1998 season did not go as well as the Jets’ did. They held a 9-7 record and lost to the Jaguars in the Wild Card playoff round.
Belichick and Brady in the 00s-10s
Both teams ended the 1999 season was 8-8 records. A day after the season ended Parcells resigned as head coach and retired his NFL coaching career. Belichick, who was the Jets assistant head coach, became the official coach.
A day after being named head coach, and just before his introductory press conference, Belichick wrote his resignation on a napkin that read “I resign as HC of the NYJ”. In a turn of events, Belichick became the head coach in New England.
In the September 23, 2001 game, Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe was injured on a hit from Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. Backup quarterback Tom Brady replaced Bledsoe for the remainder of the game, however the Jets scored a 10-3 win.
The two would meet again in December, New England won the game 17-16 and did not lose another game for the rest of the season. The Jets finished the season at 10-6 and lost in the Wild Card playoff round. New England went on to win Super Bowl XXXVI, their first ever Super Bowl victory.
After the Patriots 38-14 victory in Week 1 of the 2007 season, Belichick was accused by the Jets of having his staff film their signals from an on-field location which was in violation of league rules. The league fined Belichick $500,000 and the Patriots $250,000. New England were also required to forfeit their 2008 NFL Draft first round pick.
New York defeated New England in the 100th overall series meeting on September 20, 2009.
One of the most memorable moments between the two teams came in the November 22, 2012 Thanksgiving game. New England won 49-19 however the game is most remembered for the very aptly named “butt fumble” in which New York’s quarterback Mark Sanchez ran into the backside of his own lineman Brandon Moore. The ball dislodged from Sanchez’s hands and was recovered by Patriots safety Steve Gregory for a touchdown. This win was Belichick’s 200th career NFL win as a head coach.
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On December 30th, 2018 New England achieved their 500th regular season win by defeating the Jets 38-3. New England became the first AFL franchise to achieve this milestone.
In their second matchup of the 2018 season, the Patriots dominated in a 33-0 victory. This game become known as the “Ghost Game” as Jets quarterback Sam Darnold was caught saying, “I think I’m seeing ghosts”. Darnold threw 4 interceptions and only 86 passing yards.
Tom Brady left the Patriots in 2020 before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. While in New England, Brady posted a 29-7 record against the Jets.
The New New England
In his rookie season, New England Patriots quarterback, Mac Jones swept the Jets. The Patriots thrashed the Jets in a 54-13 victory at Gillette Stadium in October, 2021. This was the first time the Jets had allowed more than 50 points in game since 1995.
New England currently hold a 13-straight winning streak over New York, that began in November, 2016. The Jets most recent win came in December, 2015. The Patriots also lead the overall series with a 72-54-1 record.
Bill Belichick is 37-12 against the Jets in his career and is 35-11 with New England. Since owner Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, the Patriots are 43-16 against the Jets.
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones looks to continue his, and the Patriots, win streak against the Jets in the upcoming Week 11 matchup.