Jets Hold Pro Sports' Longest Playoff Drought After Sabres Clinch
The Buffalo Sabres clinched an NHL playoff berth Tuesday, ending a 14-season absence and the league's longest drought. The New York Jets now own the longest active playoff drought among major North American professional sports teams. The Jets have not reached the postseason since 2010.
The Sabres qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2011. The Jets lost in the AFC Championship Game that 2010 season to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Aaron Glenn's first year as head coach, the Jets finished 3-14, becoming the first NFL team to record no interceptions all season.
The Jets traded star defenders Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at the deadline for draft picks. Justin Fields started nine games before injury; Tyrod Taylor started four before his injury; undrafted rookie Brady Cook started the other four. The team traded Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, released Taylor as a free agent and retained Cook. They acquired Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders, where he completed 67.4% of passes for 3,205 yards, 19 touchdowns and a league-high 17 interceptions despite missing two games.
The Jets hold the No. 2 and No. 16 picks in the upcoming draft. Glenn and the front office hope Smith, the draft selections and free agents spark a turnaround and end the drought.
