The2012 season was theNew York Jets' 43rd season in theNational Football League (NFL), their 53rd overall, their seventh and final undergeneral managerMike Tannenbaum and their fourth under head coachRex Ryan. The Jets failed to improve their 8–8 record from2011. They finished with a losing record and were eliminated from postseason contention for the second straight season.
2012 was overall one of the most turbulent seasons in franchise history. The team was distracted by increased media presence during the off-season due to a quarterback controversy between incumbent starterMark Sanchez and trade acquisitionTim Tebow. In addition, numerous blunders on and off the field as well as injuries often led to sloppy play, and the team was compared to a "circus".[1][2]
On November 22, against theNew England Patriots onThanksgiving, Mark Sanchez fumbled after running into linemanBrandon Moore, andSteve Gregory ran back a 32-yard fumble return for a touchdown. The game is known now by Jets fans as the infamous "butt fumble" play and was considered the low point of the season.[3] After that it was all downhill as the Jets suffered their first losing season since2007. The Jets' offense scored only 281 points, ranking them 30th in the league,[4] while the defense was ranked 8th best in the league.[5]
The contracts of wide receivers coachHenry Ellard, outside linebackers coach Jeff Weeks and assistant head coach/offensive line coachBill Callahan expired after the conclusion of the 2011 season and subsequently they were not retained. Ellard and Callahan, when offered contract extensions prior to the expiration of their contracts, refused to re-sign.[6]
Mike Smith was promoted from his position as a defensive intern to the outside linebackers coach, replacing Jeff Weeks.[6] Smith later left the team to become the linebackers coach and co-coordinator atWest Virginia.[7] He returned to the Jets two weeks later after discovering his responsibilities with West Virginia were not the same as the team had first indicated.[8]
Sanjay Lal was hired as the new wide receivers coach on January 13, 2012.[10]
Dave DeGuglielmo was hired as the new offensive line coach on January 24, 2012.[11]
On February 13, the team namedKarl Dunbar as the new defensive line coach. In addition strength and conditioning coaching assistants Justus Galac and Paul Ricci were hired.[12]
The Jets releasedJosh Brown, waived/injuredJosh Baker, and waived Damario Ambrose, Stanley Arukwe, Wes Kemp, and Jeremy Stewart on August 27, 2012.[90]
TheDenver Broncos tradedTim Tebow and a 2012 seventh round pick for the Jets 2012 fourth and sixth round draft picks on March 21, 2012.[99]
TheCarolina Panthers tradedJeff Otah for an undisclosed draft pick on July 23, 2012.[100] The trade was voided on July 31 after Otah failed to pass a physical with the team.[101]
Drew Stanton was traded to theIndianapolis Colts along with a 2012 7th round draft pick on March 23, 2012, in exchange for a 2012 6th-round draft pick.[103]
^abNew England clinched the AFC's No. 2 seed over Houston based on a head-to-head victory.
^abBaltimore clinched the AFC North title over Cincinnati based on a better divisional record (4–2 to 3–3).
^abSan Diego finished with a better conference record than Miami (7–5 to 5–7).
^abTennessee finished ahead of New York Jets based on head-to-head victory.
^abNew York Jets finished ahead of Buffalo in the AFC East based on record versus common opponents (5–7 to 3–9).
^abJacksonville finished with a better conference record than Kansas City (2–10 to 0–12).
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
The Jets erupted to a 21–0 lead in the second quarter following twoMark Sanchez touchdown throws and aJeremy Kerley punt return score. FollowingAntonio Cromartie's interception return score and Sanchez' third touchdown (toStephen Hill),Ryan Fitzpatrick, despite three interceptions, erupted to three consecutive touchdowns, but the Jets put the game away in a fourth quarter drive ending in a one-yardShonn Greene touchdown run.
Tim Tebow, acquired from the Broncos amid heavy publicity about his presence with the Jets and the team's plans on how to utilize him, rushed five times for just eleven yards.
With their 6th straight win over the Bills, the Jets began their season 1–0.
The Jets traveled to Heinz Field for a rematch of the 2010 AFC Championship game against the Steelers. The Jets limited the Steelers to just 68 rushing yards butBen Roethlisberger tossed for 275 yards and two touchdowns. With the loss, the Jets fell to 1–1.
After their Week 3 road win over their division rival Dolphins, the Jets headed home to face their first NFC Opponent of the season, the 49ers. However, the Jets struggled in this game being shut out at home 34–0 by the 49ers. This was the first time since 2010 that the team has been shut out at home since the Packers shut them out 9–0 that year. With the huge shutout loss, the Jets fell to 2–2.
The Jets stayed home for a game against the red-hot undefeated 4–0 Texans. This game would mark the first time ever that the Jets have lost to the Texans, and as a result New York dropped to 2–3 on the season.
The Jets faced Colts rookie sensationAndrew Luck; they sacked him four times and intercepted him twice.Shonn Greene andJoe McKnight combined to rush for 232 yards and three Greene touchdowns.Mark Sanchez threw for just 82 yards but had two touchdowns, whileTim Tebow had one throw for 23 yards but was limited to seven rushing yards.
The huge win was the Jets' first win over the Colts withoutPeyton Manning since1997. They improved to 3–3 and a four-way tie in theAFC East.
This game would determine who would be atop the AFC East. The Jets erased a 23–13 gap in the fourth quarter. After aDustin Keller touchdown catchDevin McCourty fumbled the kickoff. Following back-to-backNick Folk field goals,Tom Brady whipped the Patriots to the game-tying field goal in the final 1:37. In overtimeStephen Gostkowski booted a 48-yard field goal; the Jets got the ball back but Sanchez was strip-sacked byRob Ninkovich andJermaine Cunningham, ending the game in a 29–26 Jets loss, allowing the Patriots to take 1st Place and dropping the Jets to 3–4.
Despite losing rookie sensationRyan Tannehill for the game after a first-quarter sack, the Dolphins raced to a 30–9 win, their fourth road win in therivalry in their last five trips to New Jersey. The Dolphins scored on a blocked goalline punt, then added touchdowns byDaniel Thomas and a short toss fromMatt Moore toAnthony Fasano. Sanchez managed a late touchdown toChaz Schilens but the two-point throw toDustin Keller failed.
The surging Seahawks underformer Jets coachPete Carroll limited the Jets to 185 total yards of offense and forced two fumbles.Golden Tate caught a touchdown fromRussell Wilson then took a reverse and threw toSidney Rice for a fourth-quarter score. The Jets only score came when Wilson was strip-sacked andMuhammad Wilkerson ran in a 21-yard touchdown.
It was the Jets' second straight loss to the Seahawks, and they fell to 3–6 and 0–2 against the NFC West.
The Jets posted their sixth win in their last seven meetings againstJeff Fisher. They picked offSam Bradford once and forced two Rams fumbles. The two teams combined for just 570 yards of offense. The Jets improved to 4–6 while the Rams fell to 3–6–1.
The Jets were thoroughly dominated by the Patriots; they scored five touchdowns in the second quarter, three of them in a span of 52 seconds of game clock. The first came on an 83-yard pass toShane Vereen after the Patriots recovered aShonn Greene fumble. On the Jets' ensuing drive,Mark Sanchez fumbled after running into linemanBrandon Moore, andSteve Gregory ran back a 32-yard score. The play later became known as the "butt fumble".[122] The third touchdown came on the ensuing kickoff, Devin McCourty forcedJoe McKnight to fumble, whichJulian Edelman recovered and returned for a third touchdown (he later caught a 56-yard touchdown pass fromTom Brady).
With the huge loss, the Jets fell to 4–7, and were swept byBill Belichick's Patriots for the sixth time.
This was the last time the Jets would appear on Sunday Night Football until2023. They would be flexed out of Sunday Night Football twice before 2023.
Mark Sanchez was benched in the fourth quarter andGreg McElroy threw the winning touchdown. The switch escalated brewing controversy over Sanchez's declining play.
The Jets improved to 6–7 and stayed alive in the playoff race after twice interceptingChad Henne, who'd replaced faltering sophomoreBlaine Gabbert four weeks earlier. The Jets had 166 rushing yards and two scores, limitingMark Sanchez to just nineteen throws for 111 yards.
TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Lisa Salters
Game information
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Chris Johnson ran in a 94-yard touchdown while following aJeff Cumberland touchdown catch for the JetsJake Locker ran in a 13-yard score.Mark Sanchez threw four interceptions yet a short Titans punt gave the Jets the ball inside the Titans 25 in the final minute. The Jets blew the snap and the Titans fell on the ball, ending the game.
With the loss, the Jets not only fell to 6–8, but got mathematically eliminated from postseason contention for the second straight season.
Tim Tebow entered the game for the first time since Week 10 and made what turned out to be his final plays with the Jets, missing on his only pass while rushing three times for fifteen yards.
Due to a decrease in popularity for the game, it was flexed out of Sunday Night Football on NBC and rescheduled to 1:00 PM on CBS. Following the loss to the TitansRex Ryan announced thatGreg McElroy would start for the Jets against the Chargers. Following a 63-yardMicheal Spurlock punt return touchdown McElroy led back to back scoring drives ending in 1-yardShonn Greene touchdowns. The Chargers took over the game in the third quarter with twoPhilip Rivers touchdowns and aNick Novak field goal while McElroy was intercepted once and strip-sacked once.
With the loss, the Jets fell to 6–9, their first losing season since2007.
The Jets' plan to startGreg McElroy was changed due to a concussion he'd suffered. As a result,Mark Sanchez started and managed 205 passing yards but was intercepted byBryan Scott in the first quarter for the Bills' first touchdown of the game. The Jets led 9–7 in the second quarter before the Bills scored three unanswered touchdowns, including one from ex-JetBrad Smith.Tim Tebow suited up for the game but was never used. It was the first win for the Bills in the rivalry since2009.
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^abCimini, Rich (November 13, 2012)."Jets release Aaron Maybin". ESPN New York.Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. RetrievedNovember 13, 2012.
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^Jets Media Relations Department (April 12, 2012)."C Taylor Boggs Waived". New York Jets.Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. RetrievedApril 12, 2012.
^PFW Staff (May 1, 2012)."Jets waive WR Payne". Pro Football Weekly. Archived fromthe original on December 3, 2013. RetrievedMay 1, 2012.
^Jets Media Relations Department (May 3, 2012)."G Trevor Canfield Is Waived". New York Jets.Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. RetrievedMay 3, 2012.
^Jets Media Relations Department (August 14, 2012)."Jets Waive CB Devon Torrence". New York Jets.Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. RetrievedAugust 15, 2012.
^PFW Staff (August 20, 2012)."Jets release OT Heyer". Pro Football Weekly.Archived from the original on August 27, 2012. RetrievedAugust 20, 2012.
^Cimini, Rich (November 20, 2012)."Jets cut WR Jason Hill". ESPN New York.Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. RetrievedNovember 20, 2012.
^Jets Media Relations Department (November 27, 2012)."Guard Hayworth Hicks Waived". New York Jets.Archived from the original on December 1, 2012. RetrievedNovember 28, 2012.
^Jets Media Relations Department (December 24, 2012)."WR Mardy Gilyard Waived". New York Jets.Archived from the original on December 26, 2012. RetrievedDecember 25, 2012.
^Cimini, Rich; Jane McManus; The Associated Press (March 21, 2012)."Tim Tebow traded to Jets". ESPN New York.Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. RetrievedMarch 21, 2012.
^Cimini, Rich; Chris Mortensen (August 27, 2012)."Jets deal for RT Jason Smith". ESPN New York.Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. RetrievedAugust 27, 2012.
^Archer, Todd; Calvin Watkins (March 15, 2012)."Dan Connor, Brodney Pool sign". ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth.Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. RetrievedMarch 15, 2012.
^Cimini, Rich (March 12, 2012)."Jets keep DT Sione Pouha". ESPN New York.Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. RetrievedMarch 12, 2012.
