Why are Jets out of the playoffs? Exploring 3 turning points in New York's 2024 season

The New York Jets came into the 2024 season with high expectations. The team had a top-tier defense, a future Hall of Fame quarterback, and a hungry franchise ready to end one of the longest playoff droughts in football.

However, it's the hope that hurts the most for Jets fans. Early in December, their team was eliminated from playoff contention, extending their playoff drought to a staggering 14 seasons. Ahead of their Week 18 game against the Miami Dolphins, let's highlight when the Jets' regular season took significant hits.

Why are the New York Jets out of the playoffs?

Here are three decisive moments in the Jets' 2024 season:

#1. Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers

The New York Jets started their season with a 32-19 drubbing to the San Francisco 49ers. The game was never close and was a sign of things for the rest of the season.

The season's first game is usually a chance to lay down the marker. However, the Jets were exposed, and the rest of the league had a template to defeat them. It would only get worse after their two-game winning streak in subsequent games.

#2. The five-game losing streak

The New York Jets dropped five consecutive games from Week 4 to Week 8. During that period, they lost games against the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New England Patriots.

The losses weren't pretty, with the Jets scoring just nine points against the Broncos, 17 against the Vikings, 20 against the Bills, getting blown out by the Steelers, and 22 against a Patriots team that currently possesses the number-one pick in the 2025 NFL draft. But that wasn't the last nail in their playoff hopes.

#3. Bye week misery

The Jets traded for Davante Adams ahead of the deadline. This move was intended to give Aaron Rodgers a familiar weapon before the business end of the regular season.

However, it wasn't enough, as the Jets lost two games before their bye week and one after the much-needed break. They dropped games to the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts before the bye and were beaten by the Seattle Seahawks in the game after the bye.

Interestingly, all three teams that beat them during this stretch won't be playing meaningful football in January. This just rubs salt in the wounds of Jets fans who were optimistic about this being their year.