Their playoff hopes are already hanging on by a thread and now there are actual scenarios that can play out that would officially eliminate the Jets from playoff contention in Week 15.
The good news for the Jets is that just a standalone loss to the Dolphins Sunday would not eliminate them. But if the right combination of results happens with a loss to Miami, then the season would officially be over for New York.
Courtesy of NFL Playoff Scenarios, 12 potential scenarios would eliminate the Jets. All 12 involve the Jets losing and then a combination of wins or ties by other teams.
Here are those 12 scenarios:
1. Jets loss + Bills win + Colts win
2. Jets loss + Bills win + Steelers win
3. Jets loss + Bills win + Texans win/tie
4. Jets loss + Bills win + Bengals win/tie
5. Jets loss + Bills tie + Broncos win + Chargers win
6. Jets loss + Colts win + Bengals win + Texans win/tie
7. Jets loss + Browns win/tie + Colts win + Bengals win
8. Jets loss + Browns win/tie + Steelers win + Texans win
9. Jets loss + Browns win/tie + Steelers win + Texans tie + Broncos win + Raiders win
10. Jets loss + Browns win/tie + Steelers tie + Bengals win/tie + Texans win/tie
11. Jets loss + Browns win/tie + Steelers tie + Bengals win/tie + Broncos win + Raiders win
12. Jets loss + Steelers tie + Texans win/tie + Broncos win + Raiders win
The games involved in these scenarios:
Jets at Dolphins, 1:00 Sunday
Cowboys at Bills, 4:25 Sunday
Steelers at Colts, 4:30 Saturday
Texans at Titans, 1:00 Sunday
Vikings at Bengals, 1:00 Saturday
Broncos at Lions, 8:15, Saturday
Chargers at Raiders, 8:15 Thursday
Bears at Browns, 1:00 Sunday
Since the Steelers and Colts play Saturday, as long as there is a winner in that game, the scenario simply becomes a loss plus a Bills win Sunday would eliminate the Jets. The bottom line is the Jets have just about no chance and any faint hope could end Sunday.