In a way, the 2026 New York Jets are still undefeated.

Here are the AFC standings through Week 4 in terms of conference record:

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)
  2. Baltimore Ravens (2-0)
  3. New York Jets (1-0)

That’s right: The Jets are alongside the Chiefs and the Ravens as the only three AFC teams that have yet to lose within the conference.

New York defeated the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 before losing three straight games to NFC North foes. The Jets have to lock in immediately, though, as their next nine games are against AFC opponents.

It’s a silver lining for Jets fans who are still clinging to hope that the team could break its 15-year playoff drought this season. New York fans are all too familiar with the importance of conference record in the playoff race.

Back in the 2015 season, the Jets finished 10-6, tying for the AFC’s final wild card spot, but they missed the playoffs due to a tiebreaker with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams went 7-5 in the AFC, which pushed the tiebreaker to common games, where Pittsburgh held a 4-1 to 3-2 advantage.

All five of those common games were within the conference. Pittsburgh went 4-1 against the Browns, Patriots, Colts, and Raiders, while the Jets went 3-2 against those opponents.

So, chin up, Jets fans. When it comes to potential playoff tiebreakers, New York is still sitting pretty.

The Jets will also get plenty of opportunities over the next nine games to claim head-to-head tiebreakers over potential wild card competitors. Upcoming opponents such as the Browns, Patriots, Raiders, and Broncos are all likely to be fixtures in the AFC wild card race.

It’s been another frustrating start for the New York faithful, but the glass-half-full outlook is that if the Jets happen to hit their stride at this exact point of the schedule, they are in a prime position to push back into the playoff picture.