Heading into the season, the New York Jets were ranked as the worst team in the league by ESPN. Rex Ryan appeared to be as good as gone, and the Jets shouldn’t have even bothered showing up to games.However, the Jets started off the season 5-4, with key victories against the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots. They then had the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins, all winnable games. In typical Jets fashion, they lost all three, mustering just 20 points over that stretch.
Sitting at 5-7, the Jets desperately needed a win against the Oakland Raiders. With Santonio Holmes and leading receiver, Jeremy Kerley, finally back, the Jets put up 37 points to move up to 6-7.
While six wins may have seen improbable at the beginning of the season, the Jets now have a chance at making the playoffs, however improbable it is. They could make it at 9-7 or 8-8, but will need a lot of help regardless. Let’s dive into the scenarios.
The six seed is the seed in the AFC up for grabs, as it appears KC will take the 5th. The Jets, in all likelihood, will need to win out against the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns and Dolphins.
The Ravens, who own the tiebreaker, will have to lose two out of their remaining three against the Lions, Patriots and Bengals. The Dolphins would have to lose to the Jets in the finale. This would put them in a tie with the Jets, but the New York has a better record against common opponents. The Chargers (6-7), would have to lose once against the Broncos, Raiders or Chiefs. If they tie with the Jets, they will win because of a better conference record.
