It's the Dolphins. Hands down. The Patriots lead the poll because of how good they have been since 2001 and how bad the Dolphins have been. Still, Miami no doubt. I hate both though.
As long as Rex is HC in Buffalo (probably for not much longer), a case can be made for their being our biggest rival.
I think it has a lot to do with age and when one became a fan as well. I wasn't even a teen when i became a fan purely because i loved the way Curtis Martin played. With all the drama that has happened with the Pats since then (and even with Tuna and Martin coming to the team in the first place) it is hands down the Pats* to me. I know the history between the Jets and Fins and by no means do i like them but i just haven't experienced much of it outside the Monday Miracle and Favre's week 17 loss. These 2 are trumped, to me personally, by all the shit that has gone back and forth between the Jet's and Foxborough
I'm surprised its heavily favored for the Pats. I was born in 1989 and my best memories of the Jets started in 1996 with Kotite and Keyshawn. But it's still easily the Dolphins for me. I just grew up always understanding that they were our most hated rival. I've always had a heavier dislike for them over the Patriots, and it's carried forward into today.
Yeah, that is why I said the Pats being good lately has them leading in the poll. The Jets have had much bigger games against them recently. Including 2 playoff games. Yeah, I have the same feeling. My Jets memories go back to about 1993. I feel like a rivalry takes a long time to build. The Bills have always been fine with me. They were that other team in the East. Now they have had our number lately and Rex being there makes me hate them, so I don't know if they are the Jets biggest rival, but I definitely want to beat them the most this season.
For me, it's not because the Pats are winners, it's because all of their super bowls are tainted and they have gotten caught twice now cheating in significant ways, plus injuries just always seem to magically happen against them. I don't really consider tampering to be even close to what the Patriots did, although that Shula mud bowl thing was dirty (but not really cheating). I agree, I still hate both. Bills aren't even on the radar yet but they are working their way up there.
In terms of envy/hatred/desire to beat, it'd be the Patsies. I do have trouble considering them rivals though as they seem to (currently) be operating at a higher level and with more seriously realistic goals then we do. We're hoping for a PO spot and they're disapointed if they aren't at the AFCG. I'd therefore vote Bills if the option were there as thats who we are realistically up against for a potential PO spot given that the fins are just godawful right now.
Section 321 at the old stadium would say Miami. " Marino takes it up the ass do da do da, Marino take sit up the ass o dee do da day" For the record that chant went on well into 2008, and remember it for my entire child hood.
I suspect this is a question that's gonna break down along generational lines...us old(er) timers, the Dolphins, more recent Jets fans (millennials) it's gonna be the Pats.
Especially since they completed a season sweep and knocked us out of the playoffs by willing in the last regular season game we played.
Been a Jets fan since 86. The only team that has dominated the Jets since then long enough for me to hate is the pats.
Even though I'm a younger fan (89) and didn't watch much football until the early 2000s , I'd have to say Dolphins . Watching the jets beat the pats is one of my greatest joys in life but I feel more of a rivalry vibe vs Miami . Until the dynamics of the division change , Beating NE is knocking them off their pedistool but beating Miami is like 2 junkyard dogs fighting over the same scraps. Plus a remember 1 or 2 epic prime time games in Miami during torrential downpours that really cemented the rivalry for me .
Our rivalry with Miami seems eternal. I mean once Beli and Brady retire, you'll see Jets/Pats fizzle out. Sort of like how Mets/Cardinals fizzled out, but Dolphins/Jets has survived many a regime change You know how you know you have a rivalry? When you cant even pintpoint exactly how, why, or when it staryed. Jets/Pats werent rivals until the Parcells drama, but even when he left and Belichick took over the lull was immediate. 2000 the year when Belichick was truly exposed the Pats games were meh. When Garropollo or whoever is the heir apparent is the permanent guy in NE we really wont care, and they will be back to Sullivan Stadium irrelevence. But we will always have ferocious games vs. Miami
