The Jets were in control of the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. The only thing they couldn’t do was win, something they managed to accomplish all season.
Until Week 15.
The Jets pulled off an unexpected upset on Sunday with a 23-20 victory over the Rams on the road. The win came at a steep cost, though. Following New York’s first win, the Jacksonville Jaguars now have control over the top pick and, presumably, Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence. Even though the two teams having identical 1-13 records, the Jaguars hold the tiebreaker thanks to a lower strength of schedule percentage.
Both teams have two games left in their seasons. New York finishes off with Cleveland next week and New England in the season finale, while Jacksonville plays Chicago and Indianapolis in its final two games.
Any win by the Jaguars would give the Jets the top pick back if they lose their two remaining games against the Browns and the Patriots. However, with the way the Jaguars have been playing lately, that doesn’t seem likely.
Sunday’s win could completely change the Jets’ — and the Jaguars’ — future. New York was looking at a once in a generation quarterback prospect just a few hours ago. Now, it’s possible they give it another go with Sam Darnold.
We’ll see how these next two weeks play out, but the Jets may have given the Jaguars an early Christmas present.
