Jets' playoff scenario entering Week 17 of NFL season
Jets head coach Robert Saleh looks on during the second half against the Lions at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 18. Credit: Lee S. Weissman
The Jets' faint playoff hopes got a Christmas present on Sunday afternoon when the Green Bay Packers upset the Miami Dolphins. As a result, they now have one path and one path only to make the playoffs — and though they can't clinch anything this weekend, they can eliminate themselves from the conversation.
In short, the Jets need to win both of their remaining games — at Seattle this Sunday, then at Miami on Jan. 8 — and hope for New England to lose or tie in at least one of its final two games (vs. Miami this Sunday, at Buffalo on Jan. 8).
If the Dolphins and Jets both take care of business against their opponents this weekend, it would set up a playoff play-in game between the two in Miami in the final week of the regular season (paging the NFL's schedule-flexers!). That's because, though Miami would be a game up on the Jets, a win by the Jets would give them the series sweep and the head-to-head tiebreaker.
It might not be that simple, though, after Tua Tagovailoa entered the league's concussion protocol for the second time this season. It's unclear if Tagovailoa, who leads the NFL with a 105.5 QB rating, will be cleared in time for Sunday's game against New England; if not, backup Teddy Bridgewater would start against the Patriots, who are also still alive in the playoff chase.
If the Patriots beat the Dolphins this weekend, Week 18's Jets-Dolphins game no longer becomes a play-in. Instead, there would be a three-way race for the final wild-card spot, with the result depending on the outcome of Week 18's other AFC East game: New England at Buffalo. If the Bills handle the Patriots, then the winner of the Jets-Dolphins game is in. However, if the Patriots beat the Bills — which isn't improbable, since the Bills may choose to rest their starters if they clinch the No. 1 seed this weekend — the Patriots would clinch the AFC's final wild-card spot.
However, all of this is rendered moot if the Jets don't win out, beginning Sunday against old friend Geno Smith and the Seahawks in Seattle.
The Jets can't clinch a playoff spot this weekend. Here's their lone path to the playoffs:
1) Win out (at Seattle in Week 17, at Miami in Week 18)
AND
2) New England loses or ties at least one of its final two games (vs. Miami in Week 17, at Buffalo in Week 18)
Nick Klopsis is Newsday.com's sports editor. He often can be found studying NFL and college football film for his latest draft breakdown.
