The New York Jets came into the 2026 NFL season with a little bit more optimism than last year, as Geno Smith and a revitalized offense and defense might’ve been ready to turn the corner. But through six weeks, they’re 2-4.
While the Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Philadelphia Eagles are all 2-4, the Jets’ chances of a playoff run look bleak. But that’s hardly the worst thing to come from the season so far.
After Week 6 against the New England Patriots, the Jets made some NFL history. Daniel Rotman shared on Twitter/x a statistic from Next Gen Stats that revealed the Jets’ 41st loss to the Patriots since 2000, which came on Sunday of Week 6 in 2026, was the most losses by any team against one opponent in that time frame.
Jets make bleak NFL history with another loss to Patriots
“The Patriots won their 41st game against the Jets since 2000,” Rotman shared. “The most wins by any team vs. any opponent in that span. Per @NextGenStats.”
There are plenty of statistics that Jets fans have had to come to terms with over the years, with the recent interception drought being one of the worst.
But this 41-loss record from the Jets when facing their AFC East rival Patriots is about as brutal as it can get.
Since 2000, thanks to a combination of Tom Brady and Drake Maye, the Jets have lost 41 games to their rival Patriots.
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Back at the start of this record-setting stretch of time, the Jets actually won the first three games of this head-to-head matchup since the turn of the century.
But in the 25 years since, they’ve won just 10 of their head-to-head matchups, one of which was the 2010 AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs, where the Jets won 28-21.
It’s been a rough 26 years for Jets fans, especially when it comes to facing the Patriots. Since the start of the 2016 season, the Jets have won just two games against the Patriots, losing the other 19 matchups.
This piece of history is just another brutal statistic that highlights how badly this Jets franchise has struggled in recent years. While things appear to be trending up, it’ll take a lot going their way to course-correct as a franchise going forward.
