The 2022 season was the New York Jets' 53rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 63rd overall, their fourth under general manager Joe Douglas and their second under head coach Robert Saleh.
The team raced out to a strong start, and with a Week 7 victory over the Denver Broncos, they improved on their 4âÂÂ13 record from 2021. However, despite starting 7âÂÂ4 on the year, the Jets suffered a late-season collapse. Their playoff hopes were dashed as none of the quarterbacks could keep up and they fell into a brutal six-game losing streak, while also failing to score a touchdown in their final three games, and were eliminated from playoff contention after a Week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. A loss to the Miami Dolphins the following week led to the Jets finishing with a 7âÂÂ10 record, which clinched New York's third consecutive season with double-digit losses. It was also the twelfth straight year the Jets did not qualify for the postseason, breaking the franchise record set from 1970âÂÂ1980, as well as extending the longest active postseason drought in the NFL. They also finished below .500 for the seventh consecutive season. As of the 2024 season, this is the team's most recent finish last in the AFC East.
Despite poor offensive performances led by quarterback Zach Wilson and scoring less than 7 points in each of their final three games of the season, the defense made major improvements, ranking fourth in defense in terms of both scoring and yardage, allowing a total of only 316 points and total of 5,288 yards (3,220 passing, 2,068 rushing). The Jets also became the third team to win both Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year in the same season, with first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner respectively achieving the awards.
Draft trades
The Jets' preseason opponents and schedule were announced on May 12.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
After a somewhat slow start, the Ravens outscored the Jets, who were led by former Ravens QB Joe Flacco, 21âÂÂ3 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters en route to a 24âÂÂ9 season opening victory. Lamar Jackson threw for 213 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception; the first two touchdowns went to Devin Duvernay while the third one was caught by Rashod Bateman. Flacco threw for 307 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a losing effort. This was Jets' fourth straight season opening loss.
Nick Chubb scored a touchdown with 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Jets didn't have any timeouts. The Browns had a 99.9% chance of winning at that point. Two plays later Joe Flacco connected with a wide open Corey Davis to cut the lead to 6 points. The Jets recovered the onside kick and scored the game winning touchdown 9 plays later and won 31âÂÂ30.
Garrett Wilson scored 2 touchdowns, including the game winner, in his NFL debut.
Joe Burrow threw for 3 touchdowns as the Bengals won 27âÂÂ12.
In Zach Wilson's return after a preseason meniscus injury, the Jets went up 10âÂÂ0 on Pittsburgh, before falling behind 20âÂÂ10 after Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky was benched for rookie Kenny Pickett; however, the Jets would mount two touchdown drives late in the fourth quarter, with Pickett throwing two interceptions, to take a 24âÂÂ20 comeback victory.
This was the Jets' second-ever win in the state of Pennsylvania, having previously gone a combined 1âÂÂ16 against the Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles.
The Jets scored 40 points for the first time since Week 1 of 2018 and just the third time in the past decade, and snapped a 12-game losing streak against divisional opponents dating back to Week 17 of the 2019 season.
This win also marked the first time the Jets recorded a winning percentage over .500 since week 1 of 2018.
This win marked the first time the Jets had defeated the Packers led by Aaron Rodgers (having previously been 0âÂÂ3), and was their first victory over Green Bay since 2006.
Rookie RB Breece Hall left the game with a knee injury which turned out to be an ACL tear which lead him to miss the rest of the season.
Zach Wilson threw a career high 355 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, but threw 3 picks and ended the Jets 4 game winning streak. It also extended the Jets losing streak against the Patriots to 13 games.
The Jets defense intercepted Josh Allen twice, one by Sauce Gardner and the Jets went into their bye-week with a 6âÂÂ3 record.
There were 0 touchdowns for 59 minutes until Marcus Jones returned a punt 84-yards for a touchdown with only a few seconds left resulting in the Jets 14th consecutive loss to New England. Zach Wilson had a poor performance, completing only 9 out of 22 for 77 yards. After refusing to accept responsibility for the loss in a postgame press conference, Jets head coach Robert Saleh benched Wilson for Mike White for Week 12.
Mike White threw 3 touchdowns as the Jets routed the Bears.
Despite the late rally, the Jets could not comeback after a 20âÂÂ6 deficit in the first half.
Mike White injured his ribs during the loss so Zach Wilson will start next week against the Detroit Lions.
Greg Zuerlein missed a game-tying 58-yard field goal which would have sent the game into overtime.
Zach Wilson struggled again after completing 9 out of 18 for 92 yards and an interception. After the first half, he was benched and replaced by Chris Streveler who sparked some hope but the Jaguars defense proved to be too much for Jets to overcome and they lost 3âÂÂ19. The Jets fell to 7âÂÂ8, dropping them below .500 for the first time since Week 3.
Mike White was cleared to start again but struggled and was injured again. Geno Smith, who played for the Jets from 2013 to 2014, finished his revenge tour with a decisive victory and eliminated the Jets from playoff contention for the 12th straight year.
Neither team scored a touchdown, and the Jets had failed to score a touchdown in their last 3 games and had their 3rd straight double digit losing season, and 7th straight losing season.