NFL

Jets’ road to Super Bowl continues in San Diego

It’s on to San Diego for the high-flying Jets, who could have flown home on the team charter Saturday night without any fuel they were so stoked from their wild-card victory over the Bengals.

There is more to be done for the Jets, for sure. The playoff calendar coach Rex Ryan presented to the players early last week, as first reported by The Post, says so.

The Jets believe Sunday’s AFC divisional playoff game against the 13-3 Chargers in San Diego is merely the next step.

That’s because that calendar also includes the AFC Championship Game, the Super Bowl and a victory parade on Feb. 9.

“I wanted to paint a picture, to make sure they were aware of what’s in front of us, that we’ve been preparing for this,” Ryan said last night, for the first time addressing the motivational playoff calendar carrot. “Our preparation all season was to get to where we are right now. Let’s take advantage of it.

“Sometimes when you get into the playoffs, [players say], ‘OK, we’re in the playoffs, but is it really realistic to think we can win the Super Bowl?’ But when you lay it out in front of them, I think they can visualize it, knowing that if we take care of our business and play the way we’re capable we can get this done.”

The Jets (10-7) play the Chargers by virtue of the Ravens’ 33-14 win over the Patriots in yesterday’s wild-card game.

The Chargers, who won their last 11 regular-season games and have been waiting at home with a bye week, and the Jets, winners of six of their last seven games, are arguably the two hottest teams in the playoffs.

“We realize that we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but the reality of it is if we win three games, we’re champions,” Ryan said. “It’s so close right now you can almost taste it.”

Ryan said the win over the Bengals was “one giant step for us, and to try and accomplish our mission, it breaks down to this: If we can win three games we are world champions.”

Many Jets fans have the notion the Jets are playing with house’s money, having gotten into the postseason and won a playoff game.

“I guess maybe people feel that way, but that hasn’t been the way we’ve felt,” Ryan said. “All year, we’ve had one goal as an organization and that’s to win a Super Bowl. It’s great to get a win and great that people think we’ve had a good season already.

“I came here to win a championship and that’s what our goal is. If we don’t accomplish that it’s not necessarily a bad year, but one that’s not fulfilled.

“We’re excited about going to San Diego. They’ve won 11 straight games. We’ll see who’s got the best team.”

Before the Jets got into the playoffs, their fan base was loaded with nonbelievers, people who grew tired of watching them tease with stretches of dominance and then stumble over their own shoe laces.

Then, when the Jets clawed back from 4-6 and got into the playoffs, there were still more nonbelievers than believers, because people felt like they had been gifted the playoff berth because neither of their last two opponents, the Colts and Bengals, needed to win and rested starters.

“What excuse are people going to use now?” right tackle Damien Woody asked after the Jets’ win Saturday night.

Fair question.

“We believe we’re the hottest team out there,” safety Kerry Rhodes said.

The Jets left Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, who completed just 18-of-36 passes and had a paltry passer rating of 58.3, a believer.

“They might have a chance to make a move,” Palmer said. “Their defense is that good.”

That Super Bowl carrot Ryan has been dangling since the day he was hired, one that was made more emphatic with his playoff calendar, seems more attainable than ever now that the Jets have added a semblance of a passing arsenal to their already-dominant running game and defense.

“We’re not afraid,” safety Jim Leonhard said. “Why act like the Super Bowl isn’t there? Why make it the big elephant in the room? That’s our goal. We want to win it.”

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com