The New York Jets entered Week 7 as the only winless team in the NFL, sitting at a dismal 0-7 record.
The team would be facing off against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8, and as usual, things were looking bleak for New York.
Star wide receiver Garrett Wilson was ruled out for a second straight week, and star cornerback Sauce Gardner was ruled out a few days before the game as well.
Additionally, receiver Josh Reynolds was placed on injured reserve, meaning the Jets, already thin at receiver, would be forced to play with their third and fourth options as their top two. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor was slated to make his second start of the year.
This came after Justin Fields’ poor Week 7 performance and subsequent benching, making it seem like his days as a starter may be over.
Owner Woody Johnson kicked Fields while he was down, deflecting any blame on head coach Aaron Glenn by saying “the offense is just not clicking, and you can’t run the ball if you can’t pass the ball.”
Taylor was then ruled out with a knee injury.
Then, despite Johnson’s comments, the ball was back in Fields’ hands, giving him an unexpected additional chance to keep his starting hopes alive.
Cincinnati, on the other hand, entered the game at 3-4, meaning the game’s outcome would likely determine the direction of their season.
Following a Bengals’ opening drive field goal, the Jets found themselves at 4th and 1 on their own 37-yard line. Glenn chose to go for it.
The Jets attempted a Breece Hall rush, but Cincinnati saw right through it, forcing a turnover on downs. They would go on to score a touchdown on that same drive. After only ten minutes, the Jets already trailed 10-0.
By the half, it was 24-13 Bengals, and things only worsened in the third quarter, with New York trailing 31-16 heading into the final 15 minutes.
New York put up a touchdown and two-point conversion, but Cincinnati answered right back, making it a 38-24 lead with 10:21 to go.
The Jets managed to make it a one-score game on a Hall touchdown, with Glenn opting to risk a two-point conversion to make it a six-point game.
The attempt was initially ruled unsuccessful, but on review it was determined that Isaiah Davis was in the end zone, and the Jets were now only down 38-32.
Cincinnati just needed to kill time and kick a field goal to lead by two scores, but two incompletions and a Will McDonald IV sack stopped them dead in their tracks, forcing a punt.
The Jets played smart football, just aiming to move the chains and keep the game going, killing almost five minutes before the two-minute warming.
And right out of the two-minute warning, standing at the Bengals’ four-yard line, Fields tossed the ball to Hall, who then threw a touchdown pass to rookie tight end Mason Taylor for Taylor’s first career touchdown, and a lead-taking score on the ensuing Nick Folk extra point.
It all came down to the last drive.
With former Jet Joe Flacco at QB for Cincinnati, just under two minutes on the clock, and how the Jets’ season has gone this year, it seemed almost inevitable that the Jets would blow the game.
Cincinnati moved well to start the drive, making it to their own 44. On a 3rd and 9 play, Flacco tried a pass, but was almost intercepted by safety Malachi Moore. So, in storybook fashion, it would all come down to one 4th down play.
With both sides holding their breath, Flacco hiked the ball. His pass went out to Andrei Iosivas, who couldn’t come up with it.
The Jets had stopped the Bengals, and regained possession on the turnover on downs. Fields took a knee, signaling victory formation for his team.
The game was over and the seemingly impossible had happened: the 2025 New York Jets won a football game, 39-38.
Despite the win, the season has still been a trainwreck for the Jets and the franchise still holds the longest active playoff drought of any major North American professional sports team.
Heading into their bye week, there are many questions for the Jets. Fields, who wasn’t supposed to play, could have just given himself not only another chance with the Jets, but possibly another chance in the NFL altogether.
But for now, all that can be done is celebrate, because if these Jets have shown anything, it’s that this could be their only win all year.