The New England Patriots are in the AFC Championship for the first time since 2018, in major part due to their incredible defense. They've allowed just 16.3 PPG since the bye, and 9.5 PPG across their two playoff matchups. While the defense has been solid all year, takeaways were not their main method of dominance; instead, they simply limited teams to minimal point totals.
As of late, however, they've turned things up a notch. New England has forced at least one turnover in each of their last five matchups, and against the Texans, it forced five. Carlton Davis snagged a pair of interceptions, Marcus Jones had a pick-six, and rookie Craig Woodson had both an interception and a fumble recovery after going without either all year.
While the Patriots have been one of the best defenses in the league this year, and especially over the past few weeks, it's hard not to still compare their stardom to the dismal fate of the rival New York Jets.
Despite an entire season with a new coach hired for his defensive prowess in Detroit, Aaron Glenn's squad was nothing short of pathetic in 2025.
Extremes: The Patriots have more takeaways in three quarters (5) than the Jets’ defense had in the entire season. #AFCDivisional
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) January 18, 2026
The Patriots continue to make the Jets the laughing stock of the NFL
Aaron Glenn was hired after spending 2024 as the defensive coordinator for the 11th-ranked defense in Detroit. They also ranked 11th in turnovers, 6th in rush yards allowed, but were second-to-last in pass yards allowed, behind only Jacksonville.
The Jaguars would then trade up to select cornerback Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick this offseason.
The Jets had a mountain to climb this year after losing both Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, and it looked like the offense was going to be the source of their troubles. Their offense was just that: a problem. Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook combined to quarterback the 29th-ranked offense in the league.
The talent wasn't there offensively, especially after Garrett Wilson went down with an injury. Defensively, however, the team looked like it might be in an okay spot. Even after trading away stars Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner, Glenn's defensive mind seemed sure to come up with a new group of stout defenders.
Instead, the Jets became the first team to ever go an entire season without an interception. Their four fumble recoveries were fewer than the Patriots' turnovers in the first three quarters of the Divisional Round.
Looking ahead, Glenn will remain with the Jets for 2026. Despite a multitude of draft picks, the Jets defense has eleven free agents, including Quincy Williams, Andre Cisco, and Tony Adams. While they should be expected to improve in 2026, it may not be enough to limit the Patriots to less than the 34.5 PPG they scored against them this year.