Playoff Picture

This playoff picture is courtesy of Eric Allen at newyorkjets.com

12/06 — About eight hours before the Jets lined up against the Buffalo Bills at Rogers Centre in Toronto, head coach Rex Ryan was at the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Great Hall. The 46-year-old Ryan, who played a little goal while growing up in Toronto, browsed portraits of Hall of Famers, looked at the NHL trophies and even posed for a shot with the Stanley Cup.
Ryan had an enjoyable time in his return to his childhood home as his Jets would go on to top the Bills, 19-13, and notch their second win in four days to move to 6-6. Ryan’s got plenty of respect for hockey’s Holy Grail, but he yearns to lead the Jets into football’s postseason and a shot at the Lombardi Trophy.
A 4-6 team just a week ago, the Green & White have vaulted themselves into the AFC playoff conversation. The Jets rested Sunday but still got some help from the following clubs:
Oakland — In our nobody-drug-free-could-have-predicted-this-one category, Da Raiders went in to Pittsburgh and defeated the defending Super Bowl-champion Steelers. At 6-6, the Steelers have now lost four in a row and their division hopes are dead.
Indianapolis — By taking their 21st consecutive regular-season game, the 12-0 Colts knocked the Titans down to 5-7 and Tennessee realistically will try to play spoiler down the stretch. The Jets will be at Lucas Oil Stadium to play the Colts on Dec. 27, but Indy could cement the AFC’s top seed before that matchup and that could mean a lot of substitutions for a team aiming for a full bill of health heading into January.
At this moment, some people might be scratching their heads and asking, “Dude, where’s Miami?” The Dolphins' 22-21 close shave over the Patriots today in the land of Jimmy Buffett got both the Jets and the Dolphins within one game of the Patriots. But even though it’s great to see the Pats winless on the road in North America (0-5), we won’t really be able to properly analyze this result for a couple of weeks.
By virtue of their season sweep of the Jets, the 6-6 'Fins hold an important tiebreaker edge on their friends from the north. Also, the Jets would lose out to the Patriots if the teams tied in the division as they split their two meetings this season, but New York’s AFC representative has just a 2-4 mark in the AFCE while the worst the Pats could finish is 3-3. So what really appears to be a one-game lead is basically two and there’s only four to play.
If you’re a member of Jets Nation, you don’t have to send any holiday cards to this pair:
Houston — The Texans got taken down in Jacksonville as the Jags improved to 7-5. If the season ended today, the Jags would be the AFC’s second wild card and sixth seed. Remember the Jaguars tripped up the Jets in Week 10 at the Meadowlands, so that’s something to keep in mind down the stretch when thinking about tiebreakers.
Kansas City — You wondered if the Chiefs could catch lightning twice at home. Two weeks ago, the Chiefs beat the Steelers at Arrowhead and they had a 7-4 Broncos team coming in that notoriously has struggled in KC. Uh, the Broncos trampled the Chiefs, 44-13, while improving to 8-4 and looking like a good bet for the postseason.
Don’t be surprised to see a bunch of Jets fans ordering cheese for the Monday night affair between the 6-5 Ravens and the Packers. The Jets trail the Ravens by a half-game in the conference standings.
Will 10 wins get the Jets into the postseason? Maybe, but you’ll hear all week from the team that they have four one-game seasons on the horizon and that starts next Sunday in Tampa. Let’s take a look at the AFC playoff picture as we enter the final quarter.
Indianapolis (12-0) (vs. DEN, at JAX, vs. NYJ, at BUF) — The Colts will be the AFC’s top seed and they could become a big factor in the Jets’ postseason hopes. The Green & White faithful will root for Indy against the Broncos and then on a Thursday night in Jacksonville. The Colts not only can pick off some teams the Jets figure to do battle with, but they also should be in position to rest some starters on Dec. 27.
San Diego (9-3) (at DAL, vs. CIN, at TEN, vs. WAS) — That Week 15 battle with the Bengals might decide the AFC’s second seed. The Bolts appear to be a playoff lock but they can’t take the foot off the pedal because the Broncos are knocking at their door.
Cincinnati (9-3) (at MIN, at SD, vs. KC, at Jets) — That is a ridiculously tough finishing stretch, but the Bengals are in good shape in the North as they went unblemished in the division at 6-0. Even if the Ravens beat the Packers Monday night, they’ll still be two games out and they would lose to the Bengals in a division tiebreaker. Jets fans should definitely root for the Bengals the next three weeks, so Cinci treats the finale like an exhibition game. Not saying the Jets can’t beat the Bengals, but you’ll take any advantage you can get.
New England (7-5) (vs. CAR, at BUF, vs. JAX at HOU) — Losers of three of their past four games, the Pats will be big favorites their next two contests. They get the Jaguars at home and then a Texans team that’s in freefall. If they could drop two, though …
Denver (8-4) (at IND, vs. OAK, at PHI, vs. KC) — Interesting matchup next week because the Broncos can cover in their defensive backfield and Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning. The Broncs will be prohibitive home favorites against the Raiders and the Chiefs and 10 looks very doable for this club.
Jacksonville (7-5) (vs. MIA, vs. IND, at NE, at CLE) — The Jets don’t want to finish tied with the Jags. Next week Jets fans have a huge dilemma, but I think you root for the Dolphins. Now that you’re removed the bag from your mouth, the thinking is the Jags would fall back to 7-6 and a sweep over the Colts and the Pats is highly unlikely. That last game against the Browns is favorable.
Baltimore (6-5) (at GB, vs. DET, vs. CHI, at PIT, at OAK) — Big one Monday for the Ravens because the Lions and the Bears follow at home.
Pittsburgh (6-6) (at CLE, vs. GB, vs. BAL, at MIA) — After Mike Tomlin said the Steelers “won’t go gently” and that they’d “unleash hell here in December,” the defending champs lost to the Silver & Black at home. What to expect now is anybody’s guess. Maybe they’ll start sharing roasted chestnuts with opposing teams?
Miami (6-6) (at JAX, at TEN, vs. HOU, vs. PIT) — These next two roadies are going to be awfully tough for the Fish. I liked what I saw from Chad Henne today, but the Pats can’t get to the quarterback.
Jets (6-6) (at TB, vs. ATL, at IND, vs. CIN) — They don’t pay me to work you into a frenzy, but I love this slate. Nothing against the Bucs, but the Jets are a better team. The Falcons are banged up and reeling and that’s a southern dome team playing outside on Dec. 20 at the Meadowlands. I have the Colts winning their next two, so they’ll have home-field advantage wrapped up by then. So how about the Bengals coming here on Sunday, Jan. 3, with a playoff berth at stake for the Jets — sound like an NBC flex game?
This is a season for hope and dreams, so don’t lose yours.