FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It's finally over.
The Jets' 15-game losing streak against the Patriots and a disastrous 2023 season came to an end with a 17-3 victory over New England on Sunday afternoon in a game played in heavy snow.
This game is memorable because it is believed to be Bill Belichick's last game as Patriots coach. There has been widespread speculation that Belichick will step down as coach this week.
If this was indeed the case for Belichick, it was a tough road for him to go out. The game felt like a joint game between two teams that had long since been eliminated from playoff contention, with nothing at stake other than the winner's inferior draft position.
As if it wasn't bad enough offensively for both teams, the weather further hampered production. The Patriots gained minus-7 yards in the first quarter, and both teams traded punts for most of the game.
The Jets put the game away with a strong game by their defense, three field goals from Greg Zuerlein and a 50-yard touchdown from Breece Hall. The Jets were leaning on Hall all day. He had a career-high 37 carries for 178 yards and broke for a long touchdown with 1:47 left in the game. Hall finished the season just short of 1,000 yards rushing and finished the season with 994 yards after coming back from ACL surgery. The distance from scrimmage was 1,585 yards.
The win wasn't completely meaningless for the Jets. It was the team's first win over the Patriots since 2015, ending a 15-game losing streak against AFC East foes. The Jets were tired of hearing about losing streaks every time they played the Patriots, but now that story has been buried.
Before this game, there was a lot of debate among fans about whether it was better for the Jets to lose. The loss could cost the Patriots (4-13) the No. 2 pick in the draft. That could allow them to draft a franchise quarterback who can trouble the Jets for years to come.
This win means the Jets will finish the season at 7-10, the same record they had in 2022. The season, which started with high expectations due to the trade of QB Aaron Rodgers, ended in a difficult game when Rodgers suffered a torn left Achilles tendon on the fourth play. season.
The Jets never truly recovered from losing Rodgers. In October, they won three straight games and gave false hope, but injuries to the offensive line increased, the offense stagnated, and they lost five straight, ending their hopes of making the playoffs.
The Jets won three of the final five games of the season, finishing with seven wins. The Jets started four different QBs this season, the most since 1989. Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian all took turns filling in for Rodgers. Wilson, the 2021 No. 2 overall pick, is expected to be traded or released this offseason, ending an unforgettable three-year tenure with the Jets.
Owner Woody Johnson announced on Christmas Eve that head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas would return in 2024, ending speculation about their departures.
Saleh and Douglas will enter the 2024 season with tremendous pressure to end a 13-year playoff drought. Rodgers said he would return next season. If the Jets can improve their offensive line and add a No. 2 wide receiver to pair with Garrett Wilson, they should be a playoff contender.
The Jets' defense has been strong again this year, finishing the season with a dominant performance against Bailey Zappe and the Patriots, with two interceptions in the fourth quarter.
