The New York Jets enter their Week 14 matchup against the 5-7 Miami Dolphins with a 3-9 record. While it's not a great record, the Jets are still technically alive in the playoff hunt.
It's not a likely endeavor to make the playoffs from this point on, but the Jets are still alive and could make the playoffs if things go perfectly the rest of the way.
But, as ESPN Research highlighted, the Jets can be eliminated from the playoffs this week. There are only two scenarios in which Aaron Glenn's Jets could be eliminated, and while their Week 14 matchup is one, the other involves two other AFC teams.
How Jets can be eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14
ESPN Research notes that if the Jets lose to the Dolphins in Week 14, they would be eliminated from the playoffs.
A loss would have the Jets at 3-10, and with only four weeks left, the best they could do is 7-10, which wouldn't be good enough to make the playoffs regardless of what happens around the NFL.
But what if the Jets pull off the win over the Dolphins? It's not an unrealistic outcome, especially with Miami winless in their last seven games in sub-45-degree temperatures.
As ESPN Research highlights, wins by the Buffalo Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars would eliminate the Jets from playoff contention, even if they win in Week 14.
The Bills face the Cincinnati Bengals in Buffalo in what's forecasted as a snow game. Buffalo should have the advantage, but the Bengals have been a frisky team lately, and could easily upset the Bills this week.
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Jacksonville welcomes the Indianapolis Colts to Florida, and with both teams at 8-4, the winner would be in first place in the AFC South. The Jaguars have been playing better as of late, and could win over the Colts, who are without Sauce Gardner.
As long as both the Bills and Jaguars win, the Jets will be eliminated regardless of what they do in Week 14. But if even one of the Bills or Jaguars loses and the Jets win, they will still be alive.
The Jets play the Bills and Jaguars this season, meaning they could get a tiebreaker over one of those teams if they lose out, and a whole lot of other teams don't pass them up for the final playoff spot.
It's far from likely, but the Jets could still stay alive this week with a win and one of the Bills or Jaguars losing. But, if the Jets lose, or the Bills and Jaguars win, the Glenn's Jets will be eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14.
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