J-E-T-S: 13 Long Years Since Gang Green Last Roared

The New York Jets' current 13-year playoff drought is a testament to both their lack of on-field success and the relentless dominance of their divisional rivals, especially the New England Patriots. As the franchise looks ahead to potentially ending this dry spell in 2024 with the help of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, let's take a look back at what made the last playoff season so special - and so long ago. The early 2010s were arguably the Jets' most successful period since their lone Super Bowl triumph in the late '60s. From 2001 to 2010, they made six postseason appearances under coaches Herm Edwards, Eric Mangini, and Rex Ryan. The 2010 squad was perhaps the best of that bunch - a seasoned group stacked with star power both from within their ranks (quarterback Mark Sanchez, running back Shonn Greene, tight end Dustin Keller, wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards, linebacker Bart Scott, defensive lineman Shaun Ellis, cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie) and outside via big-name free agent additions like future Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson and Jason Taylor. Despite a shaky start that included an opening-week loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, this veteran-laden squad rallied together to win their next five games in a row. This stretch included triumphs over all three AFC East foes - the Patriots, Dolphins, and Bills. The Jets looked poised for greatness at 9-2. However, they struggled down the final stretch of the regular season, going just 2-3 overall. Even so, their 11-5 record earned them the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs. In a first-round rematch with the Indianapolis Colts - who had denied them a Super Bowl berth the year prior - Gang Green eked out a hard-fought 17-16 victory. The Jets then exorcised even more demons by knocking off Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Divisional Round, winning 28-21. They were one win away from their first Super Bowl trip since Joe Namath guaranteed a victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts back in 1969. Sadly for Jets fans, it wasn't meant to be as Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers proved too much, defeating New York 24-19. Since then, Gang Green has only reached double-digit wins once (going 10-6 in 2015), failing to make the playoffs even under that current format. So here we are - 13 long years later from their last playoff appearance, and a full generation of Jets fans have never experienced the thrill of January football. Will Rodgers be the answer? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: this franchise's history is littered with more heartbreak than success. The memory of that 2010 postseason run has grown all the fonder as a result.