The New York Jets are limping into Week 16 after a 48-20 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars - a game that felt less like a contest and more like a confirmation of what’s been unraveling all season. At 3-11, the Jets are staring down another lost year, and the latest round of national power rankings reflects just how far they’ve fallen.
Let’s take a closer look at how the Jets are being viewed across the league - and why.
USA Today: No. 29 (Down from 27)
The stat that jumps off the page? Zero interceptions.
Through 15 weeks, the Jets’ defense - once considered the backbone of this team - hasn’t picked off a single pass. Combine that with the firing of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and you’ve got a unit that’s gone from feared to floundering.
For a team coached by a defensive-minded head coach in Aaron Glenn, that’s a glaring issue that speaks volumes.
Pro Football Talk: No. 29 (Down from 28)
The confusion continues. Glenn, a coach with a defensive pedigree, just fired his defensive coordinator.
That move raises eyebrows, not just because of the optics, but because of how far the defense has regressed. Injuries to cornerstone players like Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner haven’t helped, but the lack of cohesion and production has been jarring.
The Athletic: No. 28 (No change)
Despite the lopsided loss, The Athletic spotlights Isaiah Williams as the team’s MVP - and it’s hard to argue. Williams leads the league in punt return yards (396) and has taken two to the house, with a third negated by penalty in Sunday’s loss.
He’s also quietly stepped up as a receiver, posting career highs in both catches (six) and yards (53) against Jacksonville. In a season short on bright spots, Williams has emerged as a rare playmaker on special teams and beyond.
Next up: a road trip to New Orleans, where the Jets will face the Saints on Sunday.
Bleacher Report: No. 28 (No change)
The conversation has shifted from salvaging the season to evaluating the future - and that starts under center. Rookie quarterback Brady Cook made his first start against Jacksonville, and it was rough. But with Justin Fields falling out of favor and Tyrod Taylor offering a known ceiling, Cook might get an extended audition over the final three games.
This is about identifying long-term pieces. The Jets started dismantling the roster at the trade deadline. Now, the front office - led by GM Darren Mougey - will be watching closely to see who’s worth keeping around when the rebuild kicks into gear this offseason.
CBS Sports: No. 28
CBS doesn’t mince words: the defense is bad, the quarterback situation is worse, and the team isn’t competing. At this point, the Jets aren’t just losing - they’re getting run off the field. That’s a dangerous place to be for any franchise, especially one trying to instill a new culture under a first-year head coach.
FOX Sports: No. 31
FOX drops the Jets near the bottom, and the message is clear: Brady Cook isn’t the answer. The focus now shifts to the draft - and specifically, to Fernando Mendoza. The Jets are in position to secure a top pick, and if they want to reset the quarterback room (again), the next few months will be critical.
Pro Football Focus: No. 31 (No change)
PFF puts the Jets’ playoff and Super Bowl chances at 0%, and honestly, that feels generous. The defense ranks 28th in EPA per play allowed - a steep fall from where they hoped to be. Injuries to stars like Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner have gutted the unit, but even accounting for that, the drop-off has been alarming.
Firing Wilks was a move to shake things up, but the bigger issue might be systemic. The Aaron Glenn era hasn’t found its footing, and with only a few games left, there’s little time to build momentum.
Sports Illustrated: No. 31 (Down from 28)
Glenn’s first year in New York has been a whirlwind - and not in a good way. He’s benched the starting quarterback, fired his defensive coordinator, and still hasn’t seen his team snag a single interception.
It’s been a season of upheaval, and the pressure is mounting. GM Darren Mougey is expected to stick around, but Glenn’s seat is getting warmer by the week.
ESPN: No. 30 (No change)
ESPN takes a slightly different angle, highlighting guard Joe Tippmann as a potential extension candidate. Tippmann, still on his rookie deal through 2026, has shown he can hold his own as both a guard and a center. He currently ranks 17th among qualified guards in run block win rate - a solid mark for a young lineman on a struggling offense.
Meanwhile, running back Breece Hall is the most notable pending free agent. All signs point to the Jets wanting to bring him back, which makes sense. Hall has been one of the few consistent offensive threats when healthy.
The Bottom Line
The Jets are hovering near the bottom of every major power ranking, and it’s hard to argue otherwise. They’ve lost four straight, fired a coordinator, and are rotating quarterbacks like it’s preseason. But within the mess, there are a few pieces worth watching - Isaiah Williams’ breakout, Tippmann’s development, and whatever evaluation the coaching staff can make of Brady Cook down the stretch.
This isn’t about salvaging 2025 anymore. It’s about laying the groundwork for 2026 - and deciding who’s going to be a part of that rebuild.