The NFL schedule release is always a spectacle, but for the New York Jets, the excitement lasted less than 30 minutes. When the NFL unveiled the 2026 regular-season schedule Thursday night, the Jets quickly posted their full slate on social media. However, Barstool Sports—owned by diehard New England Patriots fan Dave Portnoy—wasted no time firing back. In a reply that drew immediate attention, Barstool posted a graphic declaring the Jets "already eliminated from the playoffs."

It's a harsh but not entirely unfounded jab. The Jets haven't sniffed the postseason since 2010, giving them the longest active playoff drought in the NFL. Last season was particularly brutal: New York managed just three wins, traded away stars like Sauce Gardner (to the Colts) and Quinnen Williams (to the Cowboys), and now enters a full rebuild under head coach Aaron Glenn. While the team has stockpiled draft picks, the quarterback carousel continues to spin without a clear answer.

Meanwhile, the AFC East has become a powerhouse division. The Patriots and Buffalo Bills are both expected to be among the AFC's elite teams, making a division title nearly impossible for New York. Even a wild-card berth looks like a long shot given the conference's depth. For Jets fans, it's another year of hoping—but the schedule release only reminded everyone how steep the climb really is.