At 9-5, the Jets Only Chance to Make the Playoffs is Broncos Totally Collapsing

Sitting at 9-5 in the AFC, the Jets have exceeded expectations this season. Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn’t turned into a pumpkin yet, Brandon Marshall being acquired via trade might be the steal of the offseason, and you probably couldn’t find one non-Jets fan who thought New York could be sitting at 9-5 with two weeks left in the season.

Still, the Jets are probably going to miss the playoffs, which would the worst possible situation, since they a) wouldn’t have a shot at making a run to the Super Bowl, b) would be in no-man’s land for the 1st round of the NFL draft.

Here’s why New York is on the outside looking in for the playoffs: the Chiefs and Steelers are simply too hot, and have the easiest schedules the rest of the way. Both of them also have tiebreakers over the Jets; the Chiefs have the best winning percentage in conference games; the Steelers have the best win percentage in common games (beat the Raiders, Jets lost to them).

The best (only?) way the Jets can get in is if the Denver Broncos don’t win another game. They close the season with the Chargers … time to become Philip Rivers fans!

Here are the remaining schedules:

The Steelers play two terrible teams; Pittsburgh will finish 11-5. The Chiefs get two home games against one bad team and a team they just beat (though the Raiders can be feisty).

The Jets probably are getting by the Patriots, even though they played them tight earlier this season. New York’s best bet is to have Brock “I don’t know how to play in the 2nd half” Osweiler and the Broncos completely collapse.

Before you say that’s impossible, Denver’s had a very weird run these last three weeks: The Broncos haven’t scored a point after halftime in the last three games.

Halftime vs San Diego: 17-3. Final score: 17-3 win.
Halftime vs Oakland: 12-0. Final score: 15-12 loss.
Halftime vs Pittsburgh: 27-13. Final score: 34-27 loss.

So you’re saying there’s a chance?