The Knicks and Rangers have done in three weeks what the New York Jets have never done
What a wild three weeks it’s been in New York.
The Knicks and Rangers are providing a treat last seen in 1994. In the last 20 days, they’ve combined to post a 13-2 postseason record. Both lead their second-round series: the Knicks 2-0 over the Indiana Pacers and the Rangers 3-0 over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Knicks will face some adversity to keep this up, as injuries have further handcuffed their already shorthanded roster. As for the Rangers, they look like Stanley Cup favorites behind Igor Shesterkin and Vincent Trocheck.
Those 13 victories in three weeks are breathtaking. They also eclipse the New York Jets’Â all-time postseason victory total of 12. That’s an incredible mark against a team with a 64-year history.
The comparison is not entirely fair, as each NFL team plays a maximum of four postseason games each year (and it used to be fewer) compared to the 28 that NHL and NBA teams may face. Still, it underscores Jets fans’ desperation for the postseason. Not only is the Super Bowl III Lombardi Trophy lonely in its case, but the postseason games are few and far between for the Jets. They’ve only ever participated in 25 playoff games.
Here are the 12 postseason games the Jets have won.
- 1968-69 Conference Championship: 27-23 over Oakland Raiders
- 1968-69 Super Bowl: 16-17 over Baltimore Colts
- 1982-83 Wild Card: 44-17 over Cincinnati Bengals
- 1982-83 Divisional: 17-14 over Los Angeles Raiders
- 1986-87 Wild Card: 35-15 over Kansas City Chiefs
- 1998-99 Divisional: 34-24 over Jacksonville Jaguars
- 2002-03 Wild Card: 41-0 over Indianapolis Colts
- 2004-05 Wild Card: 20-17 over San Diego Chargers
- 2009-10 Wild Card: 24-14 over Cincinnati Bengals
- 2009-10 Divisional: 17-14 over San Diego Chargers
- 2010-11 Wild Card: 17-16 over Indianapolis Colts
- 2010-11 Divisional: 28-21 over New England Patriots
That’s just eight seasons with at least one playoff victory. Only seven different franchises defeated in the playoffs. The sorry statistics go on and on.
It remains to be seen how the Rangers’ and Knicks’ postseason rides end. The Jets’ first line of business, though, is to end their 13-season playoff malaise. Then they can talk about going on a run.
Can Aaron Rodgers be Igor Shesterkin? Jalen Brunson? Broadway Joe? That’s the stuff that dreams are made of.
