How the NY Jets playoff picture looks heading into Week 14

Following a near comeback win, the NY Jets fell to 7-5 after losing on the road to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13. Many fans and analysts were discussing how the loss impacted the Jets' playoff hope, saying that it could be a game that haunts them by the end of the season.

While this could still be true, the Jets also received some help from other outcomes in Week 14. With the home stretch coming up, the Jets do have some control over their own destiny but will need to be keeping an eye on other teams in the AFC playoff picture.

Let's take a look at the five teams that the Jets will be battling for a playoff position with and some of the biggest factors when it comes to strength of schedule and tiebreakers.

As a reminder the Jets' current record is 7-5, their division record is 2-2, and their conference record is 5-4.

Baltimore Ravens (8-4) and Cincinnati Bengals (8-4)

Ravens remaining schedule: @ Pittsburgh Steelers, @ Cleveland Browns, vs. Atlanta Falcons, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, @ Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals remaining schedule: vs. Cleveland Browns, @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, @ New England Patriots, vs, Buffalo Bills, vs. Baltimore Ravens

These teams are fairly similar scenarios for the Jets considering that New York loses the tiebreaker with both teams as they lost head-to-head against the Ravens and Bengals early on in the season.

This means that the Jets would have to finish one game above whichever team does not win the division, likely needing 11 or 12 wins to do so. While the Bengals' schedule is a bit tougher to end the season, they are also the healthier and better team at the moment.

It's tough to see the Jets being able to have a one-game lead over either of these teams by the end of the season. Barring a fall from grace, both of these teams are likely bound for the postseason.

Miami Dolphins (8-4) and New England Patriots (6-6)

Dolphins remaining schedule: @ Los Angeles Chargers, @ Buffalo Bills, vs. Green Bay Packers, @ New England Patriots, vs. New York Jets

Patriots remaining schedule: @ Arizona Cardinals, @ Las Vegas Raiders, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, vs. Miami Dolphins, @ Buffalo Bills

While the Dolphins and the Patriots are two games apart, there are similarities in how their outcomes will affect the Jets' chances of making the playoffs given that they are both in the AFC East.

For the Dolphins, the Jets currently own the tiebreaker as they defeated Miami in Week 5. Their matchup with New York for Week 18 of the season will likely be significant when it comes to playoff implications.

If the Jets face the Dolphins and are only behind by one game, they can keep ownership of that tie-breaker with a win. It could impact seeding at a minimum or it could be a win-and-you're-in situation for one or both teams.

Right now, the Dolphins have a 2-1 division record, so they would need to drop a few games to their upcoming AFC East opponents to get closer to the Jets' conference record of 2-2.

The Patriots have faltered in the past two weeks, looking like they are heading in the wrong direction when it comes to the playoff race. The unfortunate situation for the Jets is that they would lose on a tie-breaker since they lost twice to New England.

The team will have to hope that the Patriots slide continues so that tie-break scenario never happens.

Los Angeles Chargers (6-6)

Chargers remaining schedule: vs. Miami Dolphins, vs. Tennessee Titans, @ Indianapolis Colts, vs. Los Angeles Rams, @ Denver Broncos

This is likely the team that the Jets will have to keep their eyes on the most. Even if three out of the four previous teams make the playoffs, there is one spot that is up for grabs.

The negative for the Jets here is that the Chargers close the season out with three seemingly winnable games. The positive for the Chargers is that the team has a history of blowing games and two out of those three matchups are on the road.

If the Jets get into a tie-breaker situation with the Chargers, conference standings would come into play so New York will need Los Angeles to drop some games to the AFC teams that play. Meaning a win over the cross-town rival Rams will be less significant than a win over the Colts the previous week in terms of a potential tie-breaker.

As of right now, the Chargers are 4-4 within the AFC so slightly behind the Jets.

If the Jets and the Chargers end up tying, the following procedure will be next in line to determine who makes it of the two teams: Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.

The Chargers have losses to the Jaguars and the Seahawks this season, making those upcoming matchups for the Jets even more significant.

If the Jets can find a way to get to nine or ten wins prior to their Week 18 matchup against the Dolphins they could be in a situation where the opponents' outcomes matter just as much as their own.

While dropping games against the Patriots and now Vikings was frustrating for a team with newfound expectations, being in the playoff hunt in this type of way is what every fan was dreaming of for the past number of years.

Now is the time to embrace the chaos and see what this team and coaching staff are really made of when the pressure is on, this stretch to end the season will give the organization situations that they haven't faced in many years when it comes to playing for something meaningful.