2011 New York Jets season


The 2011 New York Jets season was the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League, the 52nd season overall and the team's third season under head coach Rex Ryan. They failed to improve upon their 11–5 record from 2010 and failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008. This season would begin a lengthy postseason drought for the Jets. From 2011 to present, the team has failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Transactions

Coaching changes

Additions

To Jets

The Jets traded an unconditional draft pick to the Green Bay Packers for Caleb Schlauderaff.

From Jets

2011 NFL Draft

Schedule

Preseason

Regular season

;LEGEND:

Standings

Staff

Final roster

Regular season results

Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Jets trailed 24-10 heading into the 4th quarter. In the 4th quarter, the Jets scored 17 unanswered points preserving the win for them. With the win, the Jets started their season 1–0.

Week 2: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

With the huge win, the Jets improved to 2–0.

Week 3: at Oakland Raiders

With the loss, the Jets fell to 2–1.

Week 4: at Baltimore Ravens

Hoping to rebound from their Week 3 road loss to the Raiders, the Jets flew to M&T Bank Stadium for a Week 4 Sunday night battle with the Baltimore Ravens, also head coach Rex Ryan's first return to Baltimore since leaving the Ravens following the 2008 season. Ryan served as the Ravens' defensive line coach, defensive coordinator, and assistant head coach from the 1999 to 2008 seasons, and was part of their 2000 Super Bowl-winning squad. New York trailed early in the first quarter with Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain returning a fumble 6 yards for a touchdown. The Jets would respond with running back Joe McKnight returning a kickoff 107 yards for a touchdown. Baltimore would regain the lead with kicker Billy Cundiff getting a 38-yard field goal, followed by running back Ray Rice getting a 3-yard touchdown run. The Ravens added onto their lead in the second quarter with Cundiff making another 38-yard field goal, followed by linebacker Jarret Johnson returning a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown. New York responded with linebacker David Harris returning an interception 36 yards for a touchdown, followed by a 40-yard field goal from kicker Nick Folk. Baltimore came right back in the third quarter with cornerback Lardarius Webb returning an interception 73 yards for a touchdown. From there, the Ravens' defense prevented any comeback attempt.
With the loss, the Jets fell to 2–2.

Week 5: at New England Patriots

With the loss, the Jets fell to 2–3.

Week 6: vs. Miami Dolphins

With the win, the Jets improved to 3–3.

Week 7: vs San Diego Chargers

With the win, the Jets went into their bye week at 4–3.

Week 9: at Buffalo Bills

With the win, the Jets improved to 5–3.

Week 10: vs. New England Patriots

The Patriots head to MetLife Stadium for a Week 10 Sunday Night game with the Jets. The only time the Jets would lead would be in the 2nd quarter when they led 9-7 but they would get blown out in front of their home crowd 37-16. With the loss, the Jets dropped to 5-4.

Week 11: at Denver Broncos

The second primetime game in a row for the Jets yet it was a Thursday Night game. The Jets led 13-10 with a little over a minute remaining when Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow marched his team down the field and scored the game-winning touchdown. With the loss, the Jets fell to 5-5 and needing to win some more games to qualify for the playoffs.

Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills

The Jets would come out on top in a seesaw battle over the Buffalo Bills. This time the Jets scored a game-winning touchdown. With the win, the Jets improved to 6-5 continuing on the road to a playoff berth.

Week 13: at Washington Redskins

The Jets would not lead for much of the game until the very end of the 4th quarter when they blew the game wide open. With the win, the Jets improved to 7-5.

Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

With the huge win, the Jets improved to 8-5 controlling their own playoff destiny.

Week 15: at Philadelphia Eagles

The Jets would be thoroughly dominated by the Eagles throughout the game. With the loss, the Jets fell to 8-6. The Jets have never beat the Eagles in franchise history.

Week 16: vs. New York Giants

Both the Jets and Giants needed a win in order to stay in the playoff race. The Jets hosting the Giants would battle each other on Christmas Eve, Saturday afternoon edition. The Jets would lead 7-0 early on but the Giants would then respond and take over the rest of the game. With the loss for the Jets, they fall to 8-7.

Week 17: at Miami Dolphins

Hoping to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, the Jets flew down to Miami for the season finale on New Year's Day. The Jets would need to win in order to make the playoffs. The Jets would lead 10-6 going into halftime. In the 2nd half, the Dolphins would score 13 unanswered points giving them a 19-10 lead. With just over a minute remaining in the 4th quarter, the Jets would score a touchdown cutting the Dolphins lead to 2. The Jets would need to convert an onside kick and score a field goal in order to win the game and head to the wild card round in Houston. Instead the onside kick goes right to the Dolphins, the Bengals have the No. 6 seed, and the Jets season ends here at an even 8-8.