FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, who inherited the team three weeks ago after Robert Saleh’s abrupt firing, stood at the podium, his eyes glassy and his voice shaking at times. He tried to make sense of a once promising season that seems all but lost.

“I’m angry; they’re angry,” Ulbrich said of the players. “I’m hurt; they’re hurt.”

The Jets (2-6) dropped their fifth straight game, a demoralizing 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots (also 2-6) Sunday at Gillette Stadium. It was one of the franchise’s lowest points in recent memory, and Ulbrich, sharing his postgame message to the team, called it “a moment of darkness.”

Three weeks ago, the Jets were playing for a share of first place in the AFC East. Now they are tied for last with the Patriots, who despite losing quarterback Drake Maye (concussion) in the second quarter, outscored the Jets 18-9 in the second half.

The Jets are a star-laden team with a future Hall of Fame quarterback, and they have collapsed in spectacular fashion.

“I mean, losing five in a row is pretty damn dark,” said Tyler Conklin, amplifying Ulbrich’s words. “S—, one or two losses in a row could go dark. This sucks.”

As Aaron Rodgers deadpanned, “I’ve been in the darkness. You have to go in there and make peace with it.”

Unlike one of Rodgers’ retreats, there’s no guarantee this will end anytime soon based on the way the Jets played against the struggling Patriots, who snapped a six-game losing streak.

In a virtual must-win situation, the Jets lost a game that seemed impossible to lose. According to ESPN Research, they became the first team since 2012 to lose without any giveaways and fewer than 250 yards allowed. It happened to Rodgers in 2012, when the Green Bay Packers lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the famous “Fail Mary Game.”

The Jets appeared ill-prepared as the offense squandered three timeouts in the first quarter and was assessed a game-delay penalty after a crucial two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. They were also undermined by kicker Greg Zuerlein, who missed a field goal and an extra point as part of a season-long slump that jeopardized his roster position. He has missed six field goals, twice his 2023 total.

“We did not execute at critical moments,” said Ulbrich, whose team gave away the lead twice in the last seven minutes. “We say this is not who we are, but it is who we are until we prove otherwise.”

Team owner Woody Johnson recently called this probably his best selection in 25 years. At 2-3 he dismissed Saleh, expecting this move to spark the team. The Jets also traded for star wide receiver Davante Adams and welcomed back pass rusher Haason Reddick, who made his debut Sunday after a lengthy layoff.

There has been no spark.

Reddick was a non-factor, recording no tackles and two quarterback pressures in 26 defensive snaps. He was on the field for five of the final eight plays during the Patriots’ 12-play game-winning drive, which culminated in Rhamondre Stevenson’s 1-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds left.

“At this time I have nothing to say about the holdout,” said Reddick, who declined to answer several questions about it. “The only thing I’m worried about right now is what I can do to get better, what I can do to get myself fully up to speed.”

Adams (four catches for 54 yards) had another quiet game, although his presence created opportunities for Garrett Wilson (five catches for 113 yards). Otherwise, the offense sputtered and looked confused at times. The play was slow from the sidelines, and players occasionally didn’t know where to line up.

Rodgers seemed irritated at times, though he kept his mouth shut afterward.

“During one of the timeouts we lagged behind the group,” he said. “First of all, I was trying to get the protection right. First of all, I felt like we could have gotten out, but it was okay to take (a timeout) there.”

“Yes,” he concluded, “our operation was a little slow at times.”

“I’m angry; they’re angry. I’m hurt; they’re hurt.”

Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich

On the postponement of the game, which returned the 2-point try to the 7-yard line, Rodgers said he didn’t like the play calling versus the Patriots’ defensive look. So he let the play clock run out, thinking it was better than wasting another timeout. Ultimately, his pass failed. Instead of a 24-17 lead, it became 22-17.

Which didn’t last long.

For Rodgers, who went 17-for-28 for 233 yards and two short touchdowns, it marked the third five-game losing streak of his career.

His mission in New York was to change the culture of a star-crossed franchise, but that didn’t happen. He reacted angrily when asked about it, saying the question was “a bit dramatic.”

“The NFL is tough,” he said. “It’s hard to win. It’s harder when you make it hard on yourself.”

Since replacing Saleh, Ulbrich has led a defense that has scored 85 points in three games – well above average. He continued to play defense, but that could soon change.

“I’ll take a good look at everything,” he said. “If that’s one of the things that could help us, then it will certainly be on the table.”