The 2016 New York Jets season was the franchise's 47th season in the National Football League, the 57th overall and the second under head coachTodd Bowles. The team failed to improve on their 10–6 record from 2015, and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, instead finishing 5–11 and last in their division.
Transactions
Coaching staff and personnel changes
Special teams coordinator Bobby April, special teams assistant coach Steve Hagen and assistant offensive line coach Ron Heller were fired on January 6, 2016.[1]
Brant Boyer was named the special teams coordinator on February 3, 2016.[2]
Jeff Hammerschmidt was named assistant special teams coach on February 5, 2016.[3]
David Diaz-Infante was named assistant offensive line coach, Tim Atkins was named defensive quality control coach and John Scott, Jr. was promoted to assistant defensive line coach on February 9, 2016.[4]
The Jets released Matthew Tucker and Trevor Reilly from their injured reserve list and waived Brian Parker from the active roster after he failed his physical on September 6, 2016.[50][51]
The Jets waived Braedon Bowman on September 13, 2016.[52]
The Denver Broncos traded Ryan Clady and their seventh round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft for the Jets' fifth round selection in the 2016 draft on April 10, 2016.[54]
The Jets traded their seventh-round selection to the Houston Texans in exchange for quarterbackRyan Fitzpatrick; the selection was upgraded to a sixth-rounder as a result of Fitzpatrick's playing time with the Jets in 2015.
The Jets traded their 2017 fourth-round selection to the Washington Redskins in exchange for their 2016 fifth-round selection, which they used to select Brandon Shell.[77]
^ abKansas City clinched the AFC West division over Oakland based on head-to-head sweep.
^ abHouston clinched the AFC South division title over Tennessee based on record vs. division opponents.
^ abTennessee finished ahead of Denver based on head-to-head victory.
^ abBaltimore finished ahead of Indianapolis based on record vs. conference opponents.
^ abThe New York Jets finished ahead of San Diego based record vs. common opponents — the Jets' cumulative record against Cleveland, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Miami was 1–4, while San Diego's cumulative record against the same four teams was 0–5.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
The Jets held a 22–20 lead going into the final minute, but Mike Nugent kicked the game-winning field goal for the Bengals with 54 seconds remaining. With the loss, the Jets started 0–1. This was also their first home loss to the Bengals since 1981.
Week 2: at Buffalo Bills
Week Two: New York Jets at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
The Jets broke their five-game losing streak against the Bills as well as their losing streak on Thursday Night Football. The win was also the 400th career win in the franchise's history.[78]
Week 3: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week Three: New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a season high six interceptions in the loss. The Jets turned the ball over eight times as a team total. This was the first time the Jets turned it over 6+ times since 1976 against the Bengals.
Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Four: Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets – Game summary
Ryan Fitzpatrick was benched midway through the fourth quarter in favor of Geno Smith as the Jets fell to 1–5 on the season. This was the Jets' first loss to the Cardinals since 1975, when the Cardinals were based in St. Louis.
Week 7: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week Seven: Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets – Game summary
In a game that involved one touchdown (which was the Jets' only score, with the failed PAT) and 3 field goals (all by the Rams), the Jets fell to 3–7 in their first meeting with the Rams as a Los Angeles team since 1992.
Week 12: vs. New England Patriots
Week Twelve: New England Patriots at New York Jets – Game summary
With the huge loss, the Jets fell to 3–9, and were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention for the sixth consecutive season. It was the Jets' first loss to the Colts since the 2009 AFC Championship game.
Week 14: at San Francisco 49ers
Week Fourteen: New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
With the loss, the Jets fell to 4–11. They were also given their worst defeat since losing 49–9 to Cincinnati in 2013 and their worst loss to the Patriots since 2012.
Week 17: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Seventeen: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – Game summary
With the win, the Jets finished their season at 5-11, and swept Buffalo for the first time since 2011.
In this game, the Bills botched a kickoff return, when no when on the Bills went to recover a kick in the endzone. The result was Doug Middleton recovering the kick for a touchdown