Week 6
New York Jets at New England Patriots
October 18, 2026
Gillette Stadium
AFC East Rivalry
Patriots–Jets
Boston versus New York, NFL style
One of the NFL's most bitter divisional rivalries, an AFC East feud between the New England Patriots and New York Jets that traces to the league's 1960 founding. Fueled by the Boston-New York divide and a tangle of coaching defections, it has run as hot off the field as on it.
The Rivalry
The Patriots and Jets have shared a division since both were founded in the 1960 AFL, playing at least twice a year ever since. Often likened to baseball's Yankees-Red Sox feud, the rivalry draws heat from the Boston-versus-New York geography. Bad blood spiked around the coaching carousel: Bill Parcells left New England for the Jets after Super Bowl XXXI, and in 2000 Bill Belichick famously quit the Jets after a single day before joining the Patriots — moves that triggered draft-pick compensation and a lawsuit. The 2007 "Spygate" scandal, in which New England was caught filming Jets defensive signals, deepened the animosity. On the field, Belichick and Tom Brady built a lopsided run of success, while moments like the 2012 "Butt Fumble" became rivalry lore. The Patriots lead the all-time series by a wide margin.
What's at Stake
AFC East standings and playoff tiebreakers ride on every meeting, but this rivalry runs on more than seeding. It is a clash of two of America's biggest media markets — New England against New York — with fan bases that genuinely dislike each other and coaching history that turned personal long ago. For the Jets, ending long losing streaks against New England has been a recurring quest; for the Patriots, the Jets are a familiar foil from their two-decade reign.
Famous Moments
- 1985 — New England won the AFC Wild Card meeting 26-14, the franchise's first NFL playoff victory.
- 2000 — Bill Belichick quit as Jets head coach after one day, then joined the Patriots.
- 2010 — The Jets upset New England 28-21 in an AFC Divisional playoff game.
- 2012 — On Thanksgiving, the "Butt Fumble" keyed a 49-19 Patriots rout.
- 2023 — The Jets won the season finale at Gillette Stadium in what proved Belichick's final game as Patriots head coach.
The Patriots–Jets Games in 2026
The Two Teams
AFC East
New England Patriots
Gillette Stadium · Foxborough
A 21st-century dynasty, the Patriots won six Super Bowls in the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era.
AFC East
New York Jets
MetLife Stadium · East Rutherford
Founded in 1960, the Jets are best known for Joe Namath’s guaranteed victory in Super Bowl III.
Plan the Trip
This is the AFC East's marquee road trip for a Boston-New York football pilgrimage. New England hosts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, set between Boston and Providence, where cold-weather games crackle with intensity. The Jets play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, minutes from New York City. Catching the rivalry in both venues earns a firm spot on any NFL bucket list.
Frequently Asked Questions: Patriots–Jets
The two teams first met in 1960. One of the NFL's most bitter divisional rivalries, an AFC East feud between the New England Patriots and New York Jets that traces to the league's 1960 founding. Fueled by the Boston-New York divide and a tangle of coaching defections, it has run as hot off the field as on it.
AFC East standings and playoff tiebreakers ride on every meeting, but this rivalry runs on more than seeding. It is a clash of two of America's biggest media markets — New England against New York — with fan bases that genuinely dislike each other and coaching history that turned personal long ago. For the Jets, ending long losing streaks against New England has been a recurring quest; for the Patriots, the Jets are a familiar foil from their two-decade reign.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
New England Patriots host at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough; New York Jets play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
