Lichtenstein: Jets Have Little Margin For Error In Race To Postseason
By Steve Lichtenstein
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Heading into Sunday's home game against the woeful Titans, the Jets, contrary to popular belief, did not have any "trap games" slated for the final quarter of their season.
Teams in the Jets' position, where any loss would practically eliminate them from postseason eligibility, don't look past anyone.
For all intents and purposes, the Jets' 30-8 beatdown of Tennessee was a playoff game.
For those in need of further explanation, the Jets DO NOT control their own destiny.
Oh, the current standings may show that the Jets own the sixth and final playoff seed with an 8-5 record, but that's only because the Steelers have played one fewer conference game. The Chiefs, who are also 8-5, are the fifth seed based on their 7-2 record within the AFC.
If the Jets, Steelers, and Chiefs all win out (or merely finish with the same overall record and conference record), Gang Green would lose the wild card tiebreaker of records versus common opponents.
That damn loss in Oakland on Nov. 1 -- the pain from that game was not just felt in quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's thumb.
To gain entry into the postseason tournament, the Jets need help, and they didn't get any on Sunday. The Steelers scored another early knockout of a Bengals' quarterback when Andy Dalton exited with a broken thumb, leaving Cincinnati undermatched. Then the Chargers couldn't put the finishing touches on a comeback in Kansas City, failing to cross the goal line for a potential game-tying score in the final seconds.
I would expect that both KC & Pittsburgh will be favored in each of their remaining three contests (though the Steelers home game against Denver next week won't be easy). The Jets, who have games in Dallas and Buffalo sandwiched around a home tilt against New England, most likely won't win all three in the oddsmakers' eyes.
That's why the Jets have to treat every game they play like it's win or go home.
They certainly did on Sunday, jumping out to a 27-0 halftime lead, outgaining the meek Titans 324-72 in the process.
The lines were dominant on both sides. The Titans were ninth in the league in average yards allowed per rush (3.9) going into Sunday, but the Jets O-line, the members of which coach Todd Bowles named as captains for the pre-game coin toss, responded to the challenge following a slew of troublesome weeks, especially with the ground game.
The running back duo of Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell (I refuse to mention Steven Ridley. Why is he getting touches every week like these are Pop Warner games?) combined for 137 yards on 25 carries (5.5 yards per attempt). Pass protection was also solid as Fitzpatrick was only pressured on four of his 39 dropbacks, according to ESPN.com.
On defense, the Jets confused Marcus Mariota with a variety of looks that were meant to not only generate a pass rush but to also keep the rookie quarterback from escaping the pocket. Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson was the primary beneficiary, accumulating three of the Jets' five sacks.
Outside of two big plays -- one on a 41-yard touchdown pass from running back Antonio Andrews to Mariota, who had split out wide and took advantage of Calvin Pryor falling, and an unflagged pick play to wide receiver Harry Douglas that went for 51 yards -- the Titans were toothless.
Then there was the ridiculously easy touchdown to wide receiver Brandon Marshall. I had my head down in the stands when Fitzpatrick quick-snapped and threw to an uncovered Marshall on the right sideline because I thought the game was in commercial, so maybe that's why hefty defensive end Jurrell Casey was the closest defender to Marshall on his 69-yard dash with 1:35 remaining in the second quarter.
The Jets then took the air out of the ball in the second half and glided to victory.
Bowles took that ploy from his mentor Bill Parcells' playbook. Parcells happened to be the pilot the last time the Jets were this productive on offense. His Jets won six consecutive games to close the 1998 regular season, which ended with a loss in the AFC Championship game. His quarterback was Vinny Testaverde, who that year set the franchise record for touchdowns in a season with 29.
That mark just might be broken this season by Fitzpatrick. The 33-year old journeyman, who threw for 263 yards and three scores against the Titans, is just four touchdowns behind Testaverde with three games to play.
In order to have a chance to replicate anything close to the success level of the 1998 squad, these Jets will also likely have to win six in a row first. Fortunately, Fitzpatrick and the Jets are playing their best football of the season (this three-game winning streak is the franchise's longest since 2011) at the most opportune time.
But those earlier defeats mean they have to keep their foot on the pedal when they travel to Dallas for a prime time affair on Saturday. One loss will end the dream. They can't afford to look past the shaky Cowboys to their date with the hated Patriots in two weeks.
Treat it like a playoff game, not a potential trap game.
Besides, said Bowles after the win over the Titans, "If you're the Golden State Warriors, you can have a trap game. We're not that good."
For a FAN's perspective of the Nets, Jets and the NHL, follow Steve on Twitter @SteveLichtenst1