The 2004 New York Jets season was a wild ride that perfectly encapsulated the Herm Edwards era. Entering with high expectations after signing Eric Barton and David Barrett, the Jets aimed to challenge New England. They exploded to a 5-0 start, signaling legitimate contention. Though they finished second in the AFC East at 10-6, the journey was grueling. Edwards navigated a veteran roster through injuries and a brutal winter stretch, relying on a mistake-free style. While they missed the division crown, they secured a Wild Card berth, setting up a postseason run defined by agonizing near-misses that would haunt the franchise.

Offensively, the Jets rode a run-first identity that finished third in rushing yards. Everything revolved around a legendary campaign from 31-year-old Curtis Martin, who rushed for 1,697 yards and 12 touchdowns to capture the NFL rushing title. Martin was an absolute workhorse, logging 371 carries behind Kevin Mawae. Chad Pennington operated an efficient passing game, completing 65.4 percent of his passes for 2,673 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Receivers Santana Moss and Justin McCareins provided vertical threats, combining for nine receiving touchdowns. Ranking 17th in points (20.8 ppg), the unit excelled by protecting the football, committing a league-low 16 turnovers.

The defense was downright stingy, ranking fourth in points allowed (16.3 ppg) and seventh in total yards. The engine was a fierce pass rush led by Shaun Ellis, who racked up 11.0 sacks, and John Abraham, who registered 9.5 sacks in 12 games. Rookie linebacker Jonathan Vilma emerged as an instant star, recording 108 tackles and three interceptions. The secondary was equally opportunistic, featuring Donnie Abraham and rookie safety Erik Coleman, who led the team with four interceptions. Forcing 33 takeaways, this unit specialized in suffocating opponents, keeping the Jets competitive in low-scoring slugfests when the offense sputtered.

The season hinged on sharp momentum swings. Following their 5-0 start, the Jets hit a wall, dropping a 13-7 defensive battle to New England. They stabilized in November with a three-game winning streak against Arizona, Cleveland, and Houston, driven by their dominant defense. However, December brought a grueling reality check. A 17-6 loss to Pittsburgh exposed their limitations while Pennington battled injuries. After bouncing back against Seattle, the Jets stumbled into January with consecutive losses to the Patriots and Rams, backing into the postseason on the heels of a regular-season-ending overtime loss in St. Louis.

The postseason delivered pure heartbreak. The Jets opened with a 20-17 overtime victory against San Diego in the Wild Card round. That set up a Divisional rematch in Pittsburgh, a game forever etched in Jets lore. Tied 17-17 late, kicker Doug Brien missed two field goals in the final minutes, allowing the Steelers to escape in overtime. Historically, this squad remains a classic 'what-if' story. Curtis Martin earned first-team All-Pro honors, and Jonathan Vilma won Defensive Rookie of the Year, cementing a legacy of a talented roster that came inches away from an AFC Championship appearance.