The silver lining in the 1-3 start for the New York Jets

Despite an underwhelming 1-3 start, the New York Jets have shined brightest on the NFL's biggest stages.

The arrival of four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the offseason brought national interest to the often overlooked Jets franchise. In turn, New York was gifted six prime-time contests this season — two "Monday Night Football" games, two "Sunday Night Football" games, a "Thursday Night Football" game and newly introduced "Black Friday Football" game.

Following Rodgers's unceremonious departure due to an Achilles tear just four snaps into his Jets tenure, many viewers at home groaned at the idea of having to watch New York routinely play on national television without the star quarterback. Yet despite his absence, Gang Green is playing their best football in prime time — a silver lining in their otherwise demoralizing start to the season.

For the last decade, the Jets have quite literally been the butt of a joke when playing in prime time. Quarterback Mark Sanchez infamously ran into his teammate's behind and fumbled the ball on Thanksgiving Day in 2012. Running back Isaiah Crowell wiped his backside with the football as a touchdown celebration in 2018 on "TNF," only to lose to the aptly named Browns, who hadn't won in 19 games.

Jets quarterbacks have additionally had their fare share of supernatural sightings and night terrors in prime time. Sam Darnold coined the term "I'm seeing ghosts" when playing against the Patriots on "MNF" in 2019, while Zach Wilson was benched for journeyman Chris Streveler after turning in the scariest performance of his career last season against the Jaguars on "TNF."

With such an unflattering prime-time track record — New York has lost 20 of its last 26 games at night dating back to Sanchez's "butt fumble" — many cynical fans expected the worst after Rodgers went down. Instead, the Jets have performed better when playing for a national crowd.

Wilson has specifically excelled on the big stage, completing 42-of-60 (70%) passes for 385 yards, three touchdowns and one interception on "MNF" and "SNF." In his other two starts this season that weren't in prime time, the 24-year-old converted on only 30-of-63 (48%) passing attempts for 327 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. 

The Jets defense has additionally risen to the occasion in prime time, collecting six sacks and six turnovers against Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Against the Cowboys' Dak Prescott and Patriots' Mac Jones, New York registered just one sack and zero turnovers when playing during the day. 

New York's nighttime success hasn't gone unnoticed by viewers at home. The Jets' 22-16 win over the Bills drew 22.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched "MNF" game in the ESPN era, according to The Athletic. Their 23-20 loss to the Chiefs amassed 27 million average watchers, the most-watched Sunday TV show since the Super Bowl, per NBC Sports.

The Jets have proved they can go toe-to-toe with some of the NFL's best teams in front of the world. With four more prime-time games against several AFC contenders on deck, New York will once again be tested on the national stage.