INDIANAPOLIS — Rex Ryan began the week by mapping out the Jets’ complicated playoff chances.
He continued by joking that the Colts, who’ve clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, should rest their star players.
Regardless of what the Colts decide to do, only one thing is certain: The Jets have to win today at Lucas Oil Stadium to keep their playoff hopes alive and make next Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Bengals relevant.
“We’re a desperate team,” Ryan said. “We’re fighting for our playoff lives. We actually have an opportunity to still make the playoffs. With everything that has happened to us, we still have that opportunity. It’s right in front of us. We’ve got to win these two games.”
Whether the 7-7 Jets can do that against the 14-0 Colts with Peyton Manning and Co. playing or backups in there is in question considering how inconsistent they have been this season.
“The competitor in you absolutely wants to see their best,” Ryan said, referring to the Colts’ starters playing. “But I’d just as soon not see it. I just want to win. We’re desperate to make the playoffs.”
Here’s a look at whether the Jets can do that:
MARQUEE MATCHUP
Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis vs. Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Wayne is third in the NFL in receptions with 92 and has 10 touchdowns. Revis has six interceptions, and more importantly, he has won every battle with every opponent’s top pass-catching threat this year.
PASS THE STUFFING
Manning, who has passed for the most yards (4,218) and most touchdowns (33) and is third with a 68.6 percent completion rate, will face the top-ranked pass defense. The Jets have allowed only eight touchdown passes, a 52.7 percent completion percentage and a league-low 60.6 rating. Something has to give here. It should be noted that in 10 career games against the Jets, Manning has only 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and a modest 81.4 rating.
TURNING FORTUNE
As they always do with the Jets, turnovers likely will define this game. The Jets are 6-0 when they win the turnover battle and 0-5 when they don’t. Here’s the problem: the Colts, who are plus-7 this year, are perennially the best in the NFL in turnover ratio. Since 2004, the Colts have the best turnover margin in the league at plus-72, with the Chargers second at plus-57.
ON THE MARK
Mark Sanchez, who has turned the ball over 23 times this season (20 interceptions, three lost fumbles), faces one of his biggest challenges yet in the Colts’ two defensive ends, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis who are ball-hawking sack machines. Freeney has 111⁄2 sacks and Mathis has 91⁄2 and five forced fumbles. With both players nursing injuries, though, it’s possible they’ll be used only in third-down passing situations, which places a premium on first- and second-down production for the Jets’ offense.
DALLAS, INDIANA
Perhaps the most dangerous weapon in this potent Colts’ attack is Dallas Clark, who leads all NFL tight ends with 89 catches and 10 touchdowns. Who’ll match up against him? Everyone. Safety Kerry
Rhodes, who had success against
Tampa Bay’s Kellen Winslow and Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez the last two weeks, will play him man-to-man some. But look for the Jets to mix things up against him and get some hits on him at the line of scrimmage to upset the uncanny timing he has with Manning.
ON THIRD THOUGHT
What happens on third downs will be a huge determining factor. The Colts lead the NFL in third-down conversions with a 52.6-percent success rate. The Jets’ defense is second in the NFL, allowing a 34.3 percent rate. Offensively, where the Jets rank 24th in converting third downs, they must be more efficient to keep drives alive — and Manning off the field.
FIRST AND FAST
A fast start from the Jets is paramount for several reasons. If they find themselves down, say, 14-3 early, it’s difficult to make up ground on Manning. Also, should they get off to a fast start and get a significant lead on the Colts, it’s possible coach Jim Caldwell, in an effort to preserve his players’ health, might retreat with his starters. That, of course, is the Jets’ hope.
NUMBER TO KNOW
23. That’s how many consecutive regular-season games the Colts have won entering today, an NFL record.
FOE FACT
The Colts have only nine fumbles this season, losing just three of them.
JETS FACT
Jerricho Cotchery is the Jets’ leading receiver with 48 catches. Four Colts have more than 48 catches and another has 47.
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com
CANNIZZARO’S CALL
As inconsistent as the Jets have been, it’s hard to pick them to win this game, which means a lot to the Colts even though they have clinched everything. This will be a close game, but Manning will make just enough plays to break the Jets and put an end to their playoff hopes.
COLTS 24, JETS 23