NY Jets playoff odds after stunning Dolphins loss in Week 16

The NY Jets may not have played this weekend, but they still received a thoughtful Christmas gift from their fellow NFL teams this weekend, most notably from their division rival Miami Dolphins.

Entering the weekend, the Jets were given a 53% chance of making the playoffs if they won their final two games against the Seattle Seahawks and Dolphins, per FiveThirtyEight's projections. But after a few results went their way, that number has risen to a very promising 91%.

The Jets are in excellent shape to make the postseason if they're able to win their final two games to improve to 9-8. Despite their loss on Thursday Night Football, the Jets nearly still control their own destiny.

The most important result of the weekend was the Dolphins' loss to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day. Tua Tagovailoa's three-interception performance led the way for a shocking Packers victory and a crushing Dolphins loss.

Combine that with the New England Patriots' dramatic, heartbreaking loss to the Cincinnati Bengals the day prior and this was about as fortuitous of a weekend as the Jets could have asked for.

What do the NY Jets need to make the playoffs?

If the Jets are to qualify for the postseason, they're first going to have to handle business against Seattle and Miami — easier said than done seeing as the Jets have now lost four straight games.

But if they do, the Jets are in great shape. Gang Green needs just one Patriots loss over the final two weeks of the season to clinch assuming they're able to win out. The Patriots play the Dolphins in Week 17 before traveling upstate to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 18.

If the Patriots manage to win both games, the Jets could still make it, but they would need the Los Angeles Chargers to lose to both the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football and the Denver Broncos in Week 18.

The odds of that happening are slim to none, so the Jets should be massive fans of the Dolphins in Week 17 and the Bills in Week 18. It's very likely that final wild card spot comes down to the Jets, Dolphins, and Patriots.

If the Jets and Dolphins both win next week, that would set up a matchup between the two teams in Week 18 where the winner makes the playoffs and the loser has their season end. It doesn't get much more dramatic than that.

The Jets are very much alive in the playoff race entering Week 17, and if they're able to win their final two games of the season, there's a very, very good chance that they make the playoffs after all.

Playoffs? Yes, we're talking about playoffs.