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The New York Jets are entering the 2026 season looking to put a disastrous 3-14 season behind them, but one projection suggests a significant improvement could be coming. After a difficult first season under coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets have been identified as a team capable of adding several victories and changing the tone around the franchise. The turnaround will not be easy, particularly for a team that finished near the bottom of the league in 2025. New York must show improvement across multiple areas, but a more competitive roster and better execution could give the Jets a realistic path toward a substantially better record. One of the biggest questions surrounding the team is whether Glenn can establish the identity he envisioned when taking over the franchise. His first season produced disappointing results, leaving the Jets with plenty to correct, but a second year provides an opportunity to demonstrate that the early struggles were part of a larger rebuilding process. The Jets also face considerable uncertainty about their postseason chances. Several projections remain skeptical about New York reaching the playoffs, but the more optimistic outlook suggests the team could improve enough to make the AFC race considerably more competitive than its 3-14 record would indicate. NFL Analysis Predicts New York Jets to Make the Playoffs Next Season New York is projected to make it back to the playoffs for the new NFL season. This is detailed more in an analysis by Bill Barnwell for ESPN. As you might guess, that was the worst mark in the league. And as you might already be inferring, it doesn’t tend to stick. Going back to 2001 now because of data limitations, 44 teams have seen their red zone defense trail their red zone offense by at least one point per possession in a given season. The following year? Those teams restored much of that differential, with the gap falling to minus-0.2 points. Their collective records improved by an average of 2.5 wins per 17 games. This was the worst team in the NFL a year ago by advanced metrics, so setting expectations appropriately is important. It would be truly stunning to see the Jets fly up the AFC charts and compete for a playoff berth, let alone land one. They seem more likely to jump up to five or six wins in 2026, but even that would represent significant improvement. A major improvement would not necessarily require the Jets to become a playoff team immediately. Adding multiple wins would represent meaningful progress and provide evidence that the organization is moving in the right direction, particularly if younger players develop and the coaching staff finds greater consistency on both sides of the ball. For a fan base coming off one of the franchise’s most frustrating seasons, even moderate progress would provide a reason for optimism. The Jets still have plenty to prove in 2026, but a stronger record could serve as the first indication that the organization is finally beginning to move beyond the disappointment of the previous campaign.