NFL

Jets’ Rex dismisses ‘frauds’ label; beating Colts all that matters

After each improbable win, each giant step, even with the AFC Championship game remarkably on the horizon, the Jets are brutally reminded that they still are not being taken seriously.

The oddsmakers state that the Jets are 7½-point underdogs in Sunday’s AFC title game against the Colts and their quarterback for the ages — Peyton Manning.

Of the four teams left playing, the Jets, at 7-1, have been assigned the worst odds of winning the Super Bowl, which is the only goal rookie coach Rex Ryan boldly set for this season.

But the most glaring slight being leveled at the Jets is this: Their 29-15 win at Indianapolis on the penultimate weekend of the season — the win that gave the Jets and their fans reason to hope — was a fraud because the Colts pulled their starters despite having a shot at an unbeaten season.

Four teams left and one has been labeled a fraud.

“The fact is that we won that game by 14 points,” Ryan said yesterday at a press conference following a redeye flight back from San Diego after a 17-14 divisional playoff upset of the Chargers.

“It wasn’t like we squeaked it out by one point or something like that,” continued Ryan. “We played well. Granted, it was the Colts JV team or whatever they want to call it, they still had the Colts uniform on.”

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So that’s the motivation for the title game in Indianapolis: redemption?

“It’s the AFC Championship,” said Ryan. “Motivation is going to come from the fact that the winner of this game advances to the Super Bowl. That’s probably motivation.”

You heard right, Jets fans. Your team is one win away from its first Super Bowl appearance since January of 1969, when Joe Namath and Company shocked the world, by beating the then-Baltimore Colts and legitimizing the American Football League.

January 1969: The Vietnam War was still raging. Man had yet to set foot on the Moon. Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was not even a glimmer in his mom’s eye.

It has been a long journey since then — and most of the rest of the country doesn’t believe the Jets can go any farther.

After all, the last time the Jets and Colts played, Indianapolis was winning 15-10 when Manning and most of the starters unbuckled their chin straps. Better to rest and avoid injury than remain undefeated and flirt with destiny.

The Jets rallied for a 29-15 win. Other teams failed to take care of business. The Jets closed out the Bengals, 37-0 in the regular-season finale, and then won the playoff rematch in Cincinnati, 24-14.

And now the Jets have won two playoff games for the first time since 1982.

Frauds?

“Did [the Colts] pull their guys? Absolutely,” said Ryan. “And they earned that right and I said that from Day 1.

“But who cares?” Ryan continued. “If we don’t beat them now, nobody’s going to care about all that other stuff. They can say, ‘Well see, they could have beat you and all that.’ Well, that’s a different day. This is a completely different day. We’ll never know what would have happened then.

“But this day, we’re coming in there regardless of if [Colts legend] Tom Matte’s playing fullback. We’re coming after ’em. They’re coming after us. And the best team will win.”

The Colts, of course, have the precision and experience of Manning. They have a swift and ferocious defense. They have the home-field advantage.

Yet before the playoffs began, Ryan said his team would win it all. First, everyone laughed. Now, everyone is trying to belittle the accomplishments of Gang Green.

“I’m not an, ‘I told you so’ guy until after we win the Super Bowl,” said Ryan. “Then I’ll make that comment.”

Say no more.

lenn.robbins@nypost.com