The 2002 season was the New York Jets' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd season overall and their second under head coach Herman Edwards. The team tried to improve upon their 10âÂÂ6 record from 2001 but failed to do so after a 2âÂÂ5 start. However, the Jets recovered and finished 9âÂÂ7, winning their second AFC East division title.
After a 24âÂÂ21 week 8 loss to the Cleveland Browns at the Meadowlands dropped the Jets' season record to 2âÂÂ5, head coach Herman Edwards gave his famous "You play to win the game" response to a question in his press conference the following Tuesday. Edwards' vigorous defense of his team's refusal to quit, along with the midseason debut of quarterback Chad Pennington, helped spark the Jets' turnaround.
After posting a stunning rout of the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 41âÂÂ0 at the Meadowlands in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, they lost for the second year in a row to the eventual AFC champion Oakland Raiders, 30âÂÂ10 in the Divisional round.
As of the 2025 season, this is the Jets' most recent AFC East division title and is also the last time they have hosted a home playoff game.
Under the NFL's newly established schedule rotation, during the 2002 regular season the Jets played against all of the teams from the AFC West, as well as the Cleveland Browns from the AFC North and the Jacksonville Jaguars from the AFC South, who finished in the same positions as the Jets in their respective divisions in 2001. Their non-conference opponents were from the NFC North.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
New York won on the first play of overtime as Chad Morton returned the kickoff for 96 yards. The Jets improved to 1-0 with the win to start the year.
With their dominant win over Green Bay, the Jets (due to having tie-break over New England based on common record) were able to clinch the AFC East and the #4 seed in the AFC with a 9-7 record. As of 2025, this is the last time the Jets clinched the AFC East.
This game turned out to be the Jets' last home playoff game at Giants Stadium, and as of 2024, it is also their last home playoff game to date.