The Jets finished the season with the dubious distinction of playing an entire NFL season without making a single interception.
No team in NFL history had done that since they began keeping that statistic in 1933. Before this season, the 49ers held the record for fewest INTs with two in 2018.
To put the defensive futility in perspective, the Bears entered Sunday having made an NFL-high 22 INTs, followed by the Jaguars with 21, the Chargers with 19, and the Seahawks and Texans each with 18.
The Jets played 17 players in the secondary this season and not one had a pick.
Meanwhile, entering Sunday, 87 players around the league had at least one INT, led by Chicago’s Kevin Byard with six, followed by Bears teammate Nashon White, Seattle’s Ernest Jones, Carolina’s Jaycee Horn, Jacksonville’s Devin Lloyd and Atlanta’s Xavier Watts, all of whom had five.
Entering Sunday, opposing quarterbacks attempted 486 passes against the Jets without throwing an INT. According to NFL statistics, on average, an INT occurs once every 29 passes, meaning the Jets, in theory, should have had 16 picks this year.
The Jets also set an NFL record for fewest takeaways in a season with four. They surpassed the record previously held by those 2018 49ers, who forced seven turnovers that year. All four of the Jets takeaways came on forced fumbles.
- CHECK OUT THE LATEST NFL STANDINGS AND JETS STATS
For context, the Bears entered Sunday leading the NFL with 32 takeaways, the Jags had 30, the Steelers and Texans had 26, and the Seahawks had 25.
An example of how gutted the Jets roster was Sunday, just 10 of the 22 starters who started the season opener started against the Bills.
Five of them were the entire offensive line — Olu Fashanu, John Simpson, Josh Myers, Joe Tippmann and Armand Membou. That group remarkably started all 17 games.
The others are TE Jeremy Ruckert, edge Jermaine Johnson II, LBs Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood and DT Harrison Phillips.
Before the game, the Jets downgraded RB Breece Hall (knee) and CB Brandon Stephens (neck) to out. They also signed QB Hendon Hooker to the regular roster and made him the No. 2 for the game.
They also signed DL Kingsley Jonathan and OL Kohl Levao to the active roster and elevated RB Raheem Blackshear and DB Sam Womack from the practice squad.
There was much emotion flowing at Highmark Stadium on Sunday because, barring some highly unlikely playoff scenarios, this was the final game played at the stadium originally called Rich Stadium.
The fancy new stadium built across the street will house the Bills beginning next season.
The Bills defeated the Jets 9-7 in the first game at the old stadium Sept. 30, 1973. Sunday was the 50th time the Jets played the Bills at the stadium, and the Jets are 20-30 all time.
Get the insider’s view on Gang Green
Sign up for Inside the Jets by Brian Costello, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.
Thank you
It would seem logical the Jets will be the first home opponent for the Bills in the new stadium next season.
The 2026 Jets schedule will include home games against the Raiders, Broncos, Packers, Vikings, Browns, Bills, Dolphins and Patriots. Their road games are at Arizona, Tennessee, the L.A. Rams, Chicago, Kansas City and Detroit.
Jets K Nick Folk, who missed one kick all season, making 28-of-29 field goals and all 22 of his PATs, was in line for a $125,000 incentives check if he kicked two field goals against the Bills to give him 30 for the season. He didn’t get an attempt.
Had Jets RB and kick returner Kene Nwangwu returned a kick for a TD in the game it would have triggered a $500,000 incentive bonus in his contract. Nwangwu returned one for a TD against the Browns earlier this season. Nwangwu, however, wasn’t used on kickoffs because he took so many snaps at running back.
