Jets Country

Jets Slip Out of Playoff Picture After Loss to Bills

New York needs to take care of business over the final four games of the season if they want to make the postseason.

Max Goodman

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After falling to the Bills on Sunday, Jets head coach Robert Saleh made a confident assertion about New York's future.

"We’re going to see these guys again," Saleh told reporters.

In order to face Buffalo again, the Jets would need to make the postseason, ending their 11-year playoff drought, the longest in the NFL. 

They might need to win a playoff game or two as well. Buffalo is poised to enter the postseason with a first-round bye, holding the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Saleh and the Jets have a good feeling about their chances to keep playing after their regular season finale on January 8. Can't fault those in green and white for believing in themselves after such an impressive showing this season. Still, losing to Buffalo on Sunday hurt New York's playoff odds.

New York has just a 33 percent chance to make the playoffs entering play in Week 15, per FiveThirtyEight. The Jets are the No. 9 seed in the AFC at the moment, tied with the Patriots and Chargers with a 7-6 record. New England jumped back into contention (taking back the seventh and final seed in the AFC) after their win over the Cardinals on Monday Night Football.

With four games remaining, the Jets hold their own destiny, to a certain extent. If New York wins out—defeating the Lions, Jaguars, Seahawks and Dolphins—the Jets would have more than a 99 percent chance of making the playoffs, per FiveThirtyEight. Lose on Sunday against Detroit, another club that has exceeded expectations in 2022, and those odds dip to 20 percent. 

"Every game has major playoff implications," Saleh said on Monday. "This is an awesome experience for our group and more rewarding if you can get it done."

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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