It is the question that defines every Sunday in Northern New Jersey: Are the Jets winning? For anyone who has spent more than five minutes following this franchise, you know the answer is rarely a simple "yes" or "no." It’s usually a complicated mess of "well, they were winning until the fourth quarter" or "technically yes, but the quarterback just limped off the field."
Being a Jets fan is basically a full-time job in managing expectations. Honestly, the 2025-2026 cycle has been a wild ride of aging superstars, coaching carousels, and the kind of bad luck that makes you wonder if the Meadowlands was actually built on something cursed.
The Scoreboard Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
If you’re looking at the literal standings today, January 18, 2026, the New York Jets are grappling with the fallout of a season that didn't exactly go to plan. They aren't in the playoffs. While the AFC East crown stayed out of reach, asking if the Jets are winning requires looking at the "win" column in a different way.
Are they winning in terms of roster stability? Sorta.
Are they winning the PR battle? Absolutely not.
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The Aaron Rodgers era—which feels like it’s been going on for a decade despite only being a few seasons—has reached a point of diminishing returns. We saw flashes of the old MVP magic early on, but father time is undefeated. When people ask are the jets winning, they are usually looking for a sign that the "Same Old Jets" (SOJ) moniker has been retired. Unfortunately, the 2025 season felt like a tribute act to those old frustrations. Close losses, questionable clock management, and a defense that played well enough to win but spent too much time on the field because the offense couldn't sustain a drive.
Why the Defense is Actually Winning (Mostly)
If there is one area where the Jets are legitimately winning, it’s the defensive side of the ball. Robert Saleh’s fingerprints are still all over this unit’s DNA, even through the coaching shifts. The secondary remains one of the stingiest in the league. You've got guys like Sauce Gardner who, despite the occasional "sophomore" or "junior" slump talk from critics, still shuts down an entire half of the field.
- Elite Pressure: The defensive line continues to be a problem for opposing O-lines.
- Turnover Margin: This is where things get dicey. They force punts, but they don't always take the ball away when it matters most.
- Red Zone Efficiency: They’ve been top-10 in the league at forcing field goals instead of touchdowns.
But here is the kicker. You can have the best defense in the NFL, but if your offense is going three-and-out every four minutes, that defense is going to get gassed by the third quarter. That’s exactly what happened in several key matchups this past November and December. So, while the defense is "winning" their individual battles, the team isn't winning the war.
The Quarterback Conundrum
We have to talk about the signal-caller. By early 2026, the conversation has shifted from "Can Rodgers lead us to a Super Bowl?" to "What does the post-Rodgers world look like?"
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It’s a tough pill to swallow. The franchise pushed all their chips into the middle of the table for a veteran window that stayed open just a crack before the wind blew it shut. When you ask are the jets winning, you have to look at the developmental track of the young guys. They’ve got talent at wide receiver—Garrett Wilson is a superstar, period—but without consistent, high-level play from the QB, that talent is basically a Ferrari stuck in a school zone.
The Front Office Perspective: Are They Winning the Future?
Joe Douglas has been under a microscope for years now. Some fans love his "build through the trenches" philosophy. Others think he’s been too slow to pivot when things go south.
The 2024 and 2025 drafts were supposed to be the final pieces of the puzzle. We saw some hits on the offensive line, but injuries—the perpetual Jets villain—derailed the chemistry. Winning in the NFL isn't just about who you draft; it's about who stays healthy enough to play in Week 14.
The salary cap situation going into the 2026 offseason is... let’s call it "delicate." They have some big contracts coming due. If you define "winning" as having a clear, five-year path to success, the Jets are currently in a bit of a fog. They are stuck between trying to win now with a veteran core and needing to rebuild for the next generation. It’s a middle-ground that rarely leads to a Lombardi Trophy.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Jets "Losing"
People love to clown on this team. It’s a national pastime. But if you actually watch the film, the Jets aren't a "bad" team in the way the 2010s Browns were bad. They are a frustrating team. There’s a massive difference.
- Talent Density: This roster has more All-Pro caliber talent than half the teams in the AFC.
- Coaching Strategy: The scheme is usually sound; it's the execution in high-pressure "must-have" moments that fails.
- Fan Loyalty: Despite everything, MetLife still sells out. That’s a win for the business side, though it doesn't help your blood pressure on a Sunday afternoon.
The Actionable Reality: What Happens Next?
If you're looking for a reason to be optimistic about whether the Jets will be winning in 2026, you have to look at the upcoming draft and the potential for a fresh start at the coaching or coordinator level. The cycle of NFL life moves fast.
Steps for the Jets to actually start winning consistently:
- Fix the Protection: It doesn't matter who the QB is if he’s hitting the turf three times a game. The offensive line needs a complete identity shift, focusing on durability over raw athleticism.
- Identify the Future QB Now: No more stop-gaps. Whether it’s a high draft pick or a bold trade for a younger established starter, the "one year left in the tank" veteran experiment needs to be evaluated honestly.
- Utilize the Weapons: Find ways to get Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall the ball in space 15-20 times a game. No excuses.
The truth is, the Jets are currently winning the "potential" game but losing the "results" game. For a fan base that hasn't seen a Super Bowl since the Nixon administration, "potential" is a word that has started to lose its luster. The road back to relevance requires a brutal honest assessment of the roster this spring.
Watch the waiver wire and the pre-draft visits closely this March. That is where the real answer to are the jets winning will be written for the 2026 season. Until then, we’re all just waiting for the next green-and-white miracle that actually sticks.
Next Steps for Fans:
Monitor the official NFL transaction wire for Jets' roster cuts before the new league year begins in March. Pay specific attention to the "dead cap" hits on veteran contracts, as this will dictate how much room the team has to sign impact free agents. Additionally, track the recovery status of the offensive line starters who ended the 2025 season on IR; their availability for OTAs will be the first real indicator of the team's 2026 trajectory.