The Jets’ path to landing their future franchise quarterback moved a notch closer thanks to a Monday night victory by Aaron Rodgers’ former team.
December 16, 2025 — 8:54 a.m. EST
Rodgers may not have single-handedly rescued the Jets, but the longtime future Hall of Famer could have nudged New York toward discovering the next signal-caller who can lead the franchise.
Jet X readers learned on Monday why the primetime showdown between Rodgers’ old club—the Pittsburgh Steelers—and the Miami Dolphins mattered so much for the Jets’ quarterback quest. In the end, the result favored New York.
The Steelers rolled to a 28-15 win over a Dolphins squad that continues to struggle in the winter weather. Beyond providing Jets fans with a bit of satisfaction over a rival that has long haunted them, Miami’s defeat also nudged the Jets’ draft-position odds in the NFL’s standings.
With Miami’s loss and Pittsburgh’s win, New York added two losses (via the Dolphins’ two meetings) and one win to its strength-of-schedule (SOS), trimming the Jets’ SOS from .538 to .536. That puts New York in a dead-heat with the 2-12 Giants, who hold a one-game edge over the 3-11 Jets in the race for the top overall pick. In other words, the Jets’ chances of winning a draft tiebreaker with New York’s big rivals just improved a touch.
The Jets also pull further ahead in SOS comparisons with two other 2-12 teams, Las Vegas (.548) and Tennessee (.576). New York appears better positioned to win a tiebreaker against both of them. Meanwhile, because the Steelers won, the Jets now share the same SOS as the Giants, making any potential tiebreaker a toss-up. If the Dolphins had won, the Giants would have held a one-game advantage.
Here’s how the current draft order looks with three weeks left to play:
- New York Giants: 2-12 (.536 SOS)
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2-12 (.548)
- Tennessee Titans: 2-12 (.576)
- Cleveland Browns: 3-11 (.485)
- New York Jets: 3-11 (.536)
- Arizona Cardinals: 3-11 (.571)
- New Orleans Saints: 4-10 (.492)
- Washington Commanders: 4-10 (.506)
- Cincinnati Bengals: 4-10 (.523)
- LA Rams via Atlanta: 5-9 (.500)
To Jets fans who cheer for the tank, this is good news.
But let’s not forget the other side of the argument. Anti-tank supporters still have plenty at stake. If New York makes a late-season surge and challenges the Patriots and Bills in the AFC East, it could complicate the draft picture and potentially fuel a spoiler run—much like Saints fans have teased by mocking leaders in the NFC South.
If the Jets win out, they’d surpass their preseason over-under of 5.5 wins that many sportsbooks posted (some had it at 6.5). That would be a meaningful achievement for Aaron Glenn and the franchise, signaling progress even if it dents their draft position.
Ultimately, everyone is entitled to root for their team in whatever way they choose. There isn’t a universal "right" path for every fan.
For the pro-tank camp, the current alignment feels almost perfectly aligned with their plan.
