Jets in the running for worst season in NFL history

The New York Jets had their first win of the season and then let it slip away on Monday night, losing to the New England Patriots on a last-second field goal. The Jets dropped to 0-9 and not only keep their path to the No. 1 selection in this year’s draft intact — the potential prize being Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the consensus top pick in the NFL — they also remain in the running for the worst season in the history of the league.

There have been just two winless teams since the NFL went to the 16-game regular season in 1978, the 2008 Detroit Lions and 2017 Cleveland Browns. The 2008 Lions at least had a young Calvin Johnson on the roster, who would eventually lead the league in receiving touchdowns once (12 in 2008), receiving yards twice (2011 and 2012) and earn a spot on six Pro Bowl rosters, giving that squad a silver lining. The 2017 Browns were not interested in winning and instead sold off assets and stockpiled draft picks under Chief Strategy Officer Paul De

Podesta of “Moneyball” fame. The Jets are losing because they are bad and poorly coached, not by design, which makes their struggles all the more remarkable.

The 2008 Lions averaged 16.8 points per game. The 2017 Browns scored 14.6 points per game. The Jets are averaging 13.4 points per game in a year when scoring is at historic levels. The 2008 Lions lost four of their first eight games by one score. The 2017 Browns lost four of their first seven games by one score. The Jets have only lost two of their first nine games by one score and are losing by an average of 16.3 points per contest.

What’s also notable is the sheer volume of categories and lenses that show how uniquely bad the Jets have been. New York is also among the bottom three teams for points per drive, touchdown rate, yards per drive, red-zone efficiency, goal-to-go efficiency and rate of drives that go threeand-out in 2020. Its quarterbacks combine for a leaguelow 71.1 passer rating at a time when the league average is 95.1, the highest in NFL history