Jets Eye Patriots’ Blueprint, But the Gap Is Bigger Than the Scoreboard
When the Jets take the field against the Patriots on Sunday, they won’t just be chasing a win-they’ll be chasing a model. A blueprint. A vision of what they hope to become.
Because while the Jets are trudging through another rebuild, the Patriots are already on the other side of theirs. After back-to-back four-win seasons, New England has flipped the switch-now sitting at 12 wins, playoff-bound, and still in the hunt for a division crown and a postseason bye.
That kind of turnaround is exactly what the Jets are dreaming of replicating in 2026. And Sunday offers a front-row seat to how the Patriots pulled it off.
“With any team you take a look and see what was their process as far as getting it turned,” Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said earlier this week.
But the truth is, the Jets and Patriots are on very different timelines-and traveling on very different roads.
The Vrabel-Maye Effect
New England’s resurgence has been powered by two major forces: the arrival of head coach Mike Vrabel and the development of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. That’s the kind of one-two punch that can change a franchise’s trajectory. And right now, the Jets don’t have either piece.
Their quarterback situation remains one of the biggest question marks in the league. Justin Fields was brought in this season to stabilize the position, but that experiment hasn’t paid off.
So once again, the Jets are staring down the barrel of a quarterback search-whether that means rolling the dice on a rookie or dipping back into the veteran pool. Either way, it’s unlikely they’ll find themselves in a position to build around a young passer the way the Patriots have with Maye.
Then there’s Vrabel. The former Titans coach has brought a clear identity and toughness back to New England.
That kind of presence is hard to replicate. Glenn, for all his potential, is still finding his footing in his first season at the helm.
And while comparisons to Vrabel are flattering, the more accurate parallel might be to Jerod Mayo-the Patriots’ one-and-done head coach from last season, whose tenure ended after just four wins.
It’s a harsh truth, but an important one: Vrabel wasn’t part of last year’s failure. Glenn was. And that makes the climb ahead even steeper.
A Foundation of Winning
There’s also the matter of history. The Patriots’ recent struggles were a deviation from their norm-a three-year playoff drought that felt like an eternity in Foxborough.
For the Jets, that kind of “drought” would be a dream. They haven’t made the postseason since 2010.
That’s the longest active playoff drought in the four major North American sports leagues.
So while New England’s 2025 season feels like a return to form, the Jets are still trying to build a form of their own. The Patriots are correcting a blip. The Jets are trying to escape a cycle.
What the Jets Can Learn
That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to take away from New England’s resurgence. Glenn was quick to point out the Patriots’ sharp offseason moves.
“I thought they did a really good job in the offseason identifying the guys they wanted and brought to their team,” Glenn said. “And I thought Vrabel did a really good job of getting his staff the way he wanted.”
That’s a place where the Jets can start to mirror their rivals. Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey have already begun reshaping the roster, and they’ll have more opportunities in the draft and free agency to bring in players who fit their vision.
“We still have a lot of things you have to go through as far as making sure that everybody understands exactly what you are trying to accomplish, what type of team do you want to be,” Glenn said. “Between me and Moug, we have to continue to [look at] players that we want.”
That process includes the coaching staff as well. Glenn has already made one big move there, parting ways with defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
While Wilks brought experience and a steady hand, Glenn is now looking for someone who can execute his vision of the defense. That might even mean Glenn himself taking over play-calling duties next season.
Whatever shape it takes, change is coming on that side of the ball.
Building, Not Copying
Glenn insists the Jets are making progress, even if it’s not showing up in the win column just yet.
“It’s gonna be a tough road and we knew that, but we know exactly what we’re doing and we have a plan,” he said.
That plan can include learning from the Patriots-but it can’t be about copying them. Because while the Jets may share New England’s old record, that’s where the similarities stop.
The Patriots had a foundation to build on. The Jets are still pouring the concrete.
There’s no shortcut to what the Patriots have done. No magic formula. Just smart hires, a franchise quarterback, and a team that knows how to win when it matters.
For the Jets, the journey is just beginning. And Sunday’s game won’t just be a test on the field-it’ll be a reminder of how far they still have to go.