1998 New York Jets season
The 1998 New York Jets season was the 39th season for the team and the 29th in the National Football League (NFL). The team improved on its previous season by three games, finishing 12–4 in their second season under head coach Bill Parcells and their first playoff appearance since 1991, winning their first division title since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970; the 12–4 record was also the best in Jets history. This success came just two years after the Jets' 1–15 record in 1996.
| 1998 New York Jets season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Leon Hess |
| Head coach | Bill Parcells |
| Home field | Giants Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 12–4 |
| Division place | 1st AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Jaguars) 34–24 Lost AFC Championship (at Broncos) 10–23 |
| Pro Bowlers | QB Vinny Testaverde RB Curtis Martin WR Keyshawn Johnson LB Mo Lewis CB Aaron Glenn |
| Uniform | |
The Jets earned a first-round bye, given to the two division winners with the best records, for the first time. They defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 34–24, in the Divisional round of the playoffs. Their attempt to reach their first Super Bowl in thirty years was halted by losing in Denver when the 14–2 Broncos scored 23 unanswered points in the second half.
The 1998 Jets are one of only two teams in NFL history to win seven games against teams that would go on to make the playoffs.
Vinny Testaverde threw for 3,256 yards, 29 touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions in 421 pass attempts (1.7%).
The title game was the Jets' last title game appearance until 2009, although they returned to the playoffs in 2001, and qualified for the postseason four more times that decade.