NY Jets: Team needs miracle to make NFL Playoffs

Despite their recent hot streak, the NY Jets remain underdogs to make the playoffs. In order to break their playoff drought, the team will need a holiday miracle.

The NFL can be a cruel place sometimes.

Case in point, the Jets’ playoff hopes. At first glance, the team appears to be well poised to break a four year playoff drought. After all, the Jets just extended their winning streak to three games after a dominant 30-8 shellacking of the Titans. And with an 8-5 record, the Jets would make the playoffs as a wild card if the season ended today.

Unfortunately for the Jets and their fans, the season did not end today. And courtesy of some tough games ahead and some unfortunate tiebreakers scenarios, the Jets will most likely miss out on the postseason this year.

However, all hope is not lost. Last week I put together a column detailing the AFC playoff picture. Following another week of games, the picture is becoming clearer.

With three weeks of regular season football left to play, here’s what Jets fans need to know about their team’s playoff chances.

1. The Jets, Steelers, and Chiefs are all 8-5 and fighting for two wild card spots. One of those teams will be a hard luck loser.

2. Although they currently hold the final wild card spot, winning their final 3 games may not be enough to guarantee a playoff spot for the Jets.

Due to complicated tiebreaker scenarios, if the Steelers, Jets and Chiefs all go 11-5, the Chiefs and Steelers will be awarded playoff berths.

3. Because conference record plays a pivotal role in determining wild card tiebreakers, the Jets game against the Cowboys is almost meaningless in terms of making the playoffs.

If the Jets win against the Cowboys, they still need the Steelers to lose a game at some point (because 11-5 won’t clinch the Jets a spot unless the Steelers or Chiefs lose a game). But if the Jets lose to the Cowboys, they still would only need one Steelers loss to make the playoffs. Because the Cowboys game is out of conference, the Jets would hold the tiebreaker over the Steelers if both teams go 10-6 as long as the Jets loss is to Dallas (and not to New England or Buffalo). This isn’t confusing at all right?

4. Because the Jets need conference wins in order to win tiebreakers, they almost have to win their games against the Patriots AND Bills if they want to make the playoffs. 

Oct 25, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) prepares to make a pass during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Unless the Chiefs or Steelers drop 2 of their 3 remaining games, the Jets will need to beat both the Patriots and Bills in order to make the postseason. The team’s December 27th match up against New England will have playoff intensity and implications.

5. Jets playoff hopes hinge largely on what happens in the AFC North.

Both the Chiefs and Steelers still have games against the lowly Browns and Ravens. If Johnny Football and whoever the Ravens have at quarterback can lead a few miraculous upsets, it would greatly increase the Jets’ odds of making the playoffs.

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To make a long story short, the Jets need help from other teams and wins against the Patriots and Bills if they realistically want to make the playoffs. It’s far from impossible, but it will take a holiday miracle upset win over Tom Brady and the Patriots. 

*Author’s note: All these AFC playoff scenarios and many more can be tested here.