The 2014 New York Jets season was the franchise's 45th season in the National Football League and the 55th overall. The Jets failed to improve on their 8–8 regular season record in 2013 and were eliminated from postseason contention for the fourth consecutive season after a Week 12 loss to the Buffalo Bills. As a result, head coachRex Ryan was fired on December 29, 2014, after compiling a 46–50 record in six seasons.
Transactions
Coaching and personnel changes
Linebackers coach Brian VanGorder was hired as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator.[1] Defensive quality control coach Bobby April III was promoted to replace VanGorder.[2]
Special teams coach Ben Kotwica was hired by the Washington Redskins for the same position.[3] He was replaced by former LSU special teams coach Thomas McGaughey.[4]
The Jets promoted Tony Sparano Jr. to offensive assistant and hired former player Eric Smith as a seasonal intern.[5]
The Jets hired Aaron McLaurin as an assistant strength and conditioning coach and Kavan Latham as a strength and conditioning intern.[6]
The Jets signed undrafted free agents Tevon Conrad, Steele Divitto, Anthony Grady, Kerry Hyder, Terrence Miller, Brent Qvale, Zach Thompson, and Chad Young on May 11, 2014.[19]
^ abNew England defeated Denver head-to-head (Week 9, 43–21).
^ abPittsburgh defeated Indianapolis head-to-head (Week 8, 51–34).
^ abcdKansas City finished ahead of San Diego in the AFC West based on head-to-head sweep (Week 7, 23–20; Week 17, 19–7). Houston finished ahead of Kansas City and Buffalo based on conference record. Kansas City finished ahead of Buffalo based on head-to-head victory (Week 10, 17–13). San Diego finished ahead of Buffalo based on head-to-head victory (Week 3, 22–10).
^ abJacksonville finished ahead of Oakland based on record vs. common opponents (1–4 to 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 got off to a sloppy start when Raiders rookie starting QB Derek Carr torched the Jets defense early in the game to take a 7-3 lead after Charles Woodson picked off Jets 2nd year QB Geno Smith in his 17th start. However, the Jets quickly rebounded with a 5-yard shovel TD pass from Smith to Chris Johnson to take the lead 10-7 going into halftime. The Jets would never trail the rest of the game, although Carr threw a late TD pass to Raiders WR James Jones in garbage time, and attempted a failed onside kick. Chris Ivory had a solid day, rushing for 102 yards and a TD. The score came when Ivory ran 71 yards for a TD during the 4th quarter; it was the Jets' longest TD run since Thomas Jones 71-yard TD run back on October 19, 2009. Geno Smith completed a career-best 82.1% completion percentage (23/28 for 221 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT); it was the best performance delivered by a Jet quarterback since Chad Pennington completed 82.1% of his passes in a loss to the Buffalo Bills way back in 2007.
Week 2: at Green Bay Packers
Week Two: New York Jets at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
After racing to a 21-3 lead in the second quarter, the Jets were outscored 28-3 for the remainder of the game. A game-tying 37-yard touchdown throw by Geno Smith to Jeremy Kerley with five minutes to go in the fourth quarter was wiped out when assistant coach Marty Mornhinweg called the Jets' final timeout just as the ball was snapped; even more egregiously Mornhinweg was not authorized to call timeouts, the responsibility of head coach Rex Ryan. The Jets failed to convert after this and fell 31-24; it marked only the second time for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers that he won a game despite a deficit exceeding eight points.
Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears
Week Three: Chicago Bears at New York Jets – Game summary
Geno Smith was benched in the middle of this game for Michael Vick.[79] CBS imposed the "mercy rule" (switching to another program) towards the end of this game because of how poorly the Jets were playing.[80] This marked the third season in a row in which a New York team was the first team to be shut out in a game.
Week 6: vs. Denver Broncos
Week Six: Denver Broncos at New York Jets – Game summary
The Patriots defeated the Jets, 27–25. The Jets' offense drove to the Patriots' red zone on all four of their first-half drives. However, they were held to four field goals while the Patriots scored two touchdowns and a field goal, building a 17–12 halftime lead. On their first drive in the second half, the Jets reached the end zone and took a 19–17 lead. The Patriots then scored ten unanswered points to go up 27-19. The Jets had a chance to tie the game with a touchdown and a two-point conversion. However, Jets QB Geno Smith's game-tying pass was overthrown, and the Patriots led 27-25. After a failed onside kick recovery, the Jets forced a three and out and got the ball back with just over one minute remaining. The Jets drove from their 12-yard line to the Patriots' 40-yard line. With 5 seconds remaining, Jets kicker Nick Folk was sent out to kick a game-winning 58-yard field goal. The kick was blocked, and the Patriots held on for a 27-25 victory. With the loss, the Jets fell to 1–6 as they lost their sixth consecutive game and remained in 4th place in the AFC East. The Jets' six-game losing streak is the longest losing streak under head coach Rex Ryan. The loss represented the first time that the Jets had lost six consecutive games since they dropped six in a row from Weeks 4–9 during the 2007 season.
The loss also led to a trade the next day with the Seahawks for receiver Percy Harvin.
Week 8: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Eight: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – Game summary
^Cimini, Rich (September 11, 2014). "Jets waive CB Leon McFadden". ESPN New York. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
^ abCostello, Brian (January 14, 2014). "Jets re-sign Matt Simms". New York Post. Archived from the original on January 14, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.