In the New York Jets’ sixth game of the 2026 season, on a crisp, clear day in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Jets fell to the New England Patriots, 26 – 19.
The game opened with the Jets on offense. They put together a solid opening drive, chewing up half the opening quarter, mixing runs and short passes to get inside the Patriots 15 yard line before settling for a 42 yard field goal and an early 3 – 0 Jets lead.
After the Jets forced a Patriots three and out the Jets offense took over for their second
drive. It did not go well. Geno Smith was sacked twice, forcing the Jets back to their own three yard line. Austin McNamara punted out of his own end zone and the Patriots started their second drive with great field position in Jets territory.
Two plays later the Patriots were in the end zone on a 42 yard bomb to Romeo Doubs, making the score Patriots 7, Jets 3.
The quarter ended with the score still Patriots 7, Jets 3, with the Jets driving inside the Patriots 35 yard line. Unfortunately, the Jets came up empty as they came up short on a 4th down try.
From there neither team could put together much on offense until the Jets failed to convert another 4th down attempt and the Patriots took over at their own 39 yard line with less than seven minutes left in the first half. The Patriots took advantage of the good field position as they put together a short drive ending in a field goal and a 10 – 3 Patriots lead with just under two minutes left in the half.
As has been tradition for the Jets, they looked like they were entirely unfamiliar with the concept of a two minute drill as they went three and out and punted the ball back to the Patriots with plenty of time left on the clock. The Patriots gladly accepted the Jets’ gift as they marched right down the field for a touchdown with less than 20 seconds left in the half. The half ended with the Jets trailing by two touchdowns at Patriots 17, Jets 3. Despite dominating the clock and looking effective on offense, the Jets’ repeated failures in short yardage situations put them in a deep hole to start the second half.
The Jets opened the third quarter on defense. The Patriots advanced into Jets territory before they failed to convert on a 4th and five. The Jets offense took over at their own 40 yard line with good field position and an opportunity to get back in the game. It didn’t take long for the Jets to answer the call. On the Jets’ 3rd play of the drive Geno Smith launched a bomb that Omar Cooper settled under in the end zone. The touchdown brought the Jets within seven points at Patriots 17, Jets 10 early in the third quarter.
On the ensuing Patriots drive David Bailey forced a Patriots fumble and the Jets recovered deep in Patriots territory with a chance to even the score. The Jets were unable to fully take advantage. They were forced to settle for a 36 yard field goal. That brought the score to Patriots 17, Jets 13 late in the third quarter.
The third quarter ended with the score still 17 – 13 with the Patriots driving deep in Jets territory. A few plays into the fourth quarter Drake Maye hit Hunter Henry in the end zone and the Patriots snuffed out the Jets’ building momentum. The Patriots missed the extra point, bringing the score to Patriots 23, Jets 13 early in the 4th quarter. With a double digit deficit to make up things did not look good for the Jets.
On the Jets next possession Geno Smith threw up an ill-advised moon ball that was intercepted by the Patriots. It was the first interception of the season for Smith, and it put the Jets in a hole they were unlikely to recover from.
The Jets weren’t done yet. A few plays later the Jets forced a reversal of fortune. Jamien Sherwood forced a fumble, Minkah Fitzpatrick recovered and the Jets were in business near midfield. The Jets moved the ball but were forced to settle for a field goal, bringing the Jets within a touchdown at Patriots 23, Jets 16 midway through the fourth quarter.
In a humiliating ending to a hard fought game, the Patriots took over and simply ran the ball down the Jets’ throats behind a makeshift offensive line filled with backups. The Jets were helpless to stop them, the Patriots ran the clock down to close to a minute left to play, then kicked a field goal to seal the Jets’ fate. The Jets tacked on a last gasp field goal, but they were unable to recover the ensuing onsides kick, and the Patriots ran out the remaining few seconds of the game. Final score: Patriots 26, Jets 19.
The loss brought the Jets’ record to 2-4. The Jets return home next week to take on a winless Miami Dolphins team, looking to get back on the winning track.
