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How the New York Jets can win the AFC East

By Russell S. Baxter

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 23: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets in action against the Green Bay Packers on December 23, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Packers defeated the Jets 44-38 in overtime. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 23: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets in action against the Green Bay Packers on December 23, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Packers defeated the Jets 44-38 in overtime. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 11: Zay Jones #11 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on November 11, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 11: Zay Jones #11 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on November 11, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

1. Learn how to win within the division

Sounds obvious but this has been a particular sore point for the Green and White as of late. And in case you are curious, the last time the Green and White posted a winning record vs. their AFC East rivals was back in 2010 – the last time the franchise reached the playoffs. The Jets finished a combined 4-2 vs. their three division neighbors and for extra measure, knocked off the New England Patriots at Foxborough in the Divisional round.

Since then, the club is a combined 17-31 vs. the Bills (8-8), Dolphins (7-9) and Patriots (2-14). And since finishing 3-3 vs. their AFC East foes in 2015 (the club’s last winning campaign), New York owns a very dismal 5-13 in divisional matchups.

This past season was particularly disturbing if you were a member of the Jets. Yes, the team rallied for a 27-23 victory at Buffalo in Week 14. But in their other five games vs. the Bills, Dolphins and Patriots, the club was outscored a combined 139-44 in five setbacks. Meanwhile, in his three seasons at the helm of the ‘Fins, current Jets’ head coach Adam Gase owned a combined 10-8 record vs. his division brethren – including a pair of wins over the Pats each of the past two seasons at South Florida.

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Will that success by Gase translate this season with the Green and White? It’s far too early to tell. But the coach’s knowledge of the division is certainly a positive.

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