A month ago, the playoffs seemed like a realistic possibility for the Jets. But now, with four games left, hopes for a postseason are a pipe dream.
“There’s no need to talk about playoffs anymore,” veteran linebacker Calvin Pace said. “We’re going to try to win the rest of these games and let the chips fall where they may.”
The 5-7 Jets still are mathematically alive for the playoffs, and will be even if they lose Sunday to the 4-8 Raiders. The Jets likely need to run the table to make the playoffs, so Pace is right — there is no more need to talk about it.
Instead, the next four weeks are about the future of two men — coach Rex Ryan and quarterback Geno Smith. Ryan’s fate may be tied to how well Smith can perform. Lately, the rookie has looked nothing like a franchise quarterback. He has not completed 10 or more passes in a game since October and was yanked at halftime of last week’s loss to the Dolphins.
“I think everybody’s pressing right now,” Pace said. “We’re kind of at a point of no return where we have to win. [Quarterback is] a pressure position. If we win, he gets all the credit. If we lose, he gets all the blame. That’s not fair. I just want him to keep working, keep believing in himself and don’t be hesitant.”
Smith maintains he has not lost his confidence, but said he knows how much is riding on him as the Jets hit the stretch run.
“ It means a lot for our team,” Smith said of the Raiders game. “We need a win. Obviously, we’ve had a few rough weeks. But the key thing for us to do is just clear those things out of our minds, not let it affect us. Nothing in the past can affect us, good or bad, and just move on from it and then go out there and have fun on Sunday.”
A look inside the game:
Marquee matchup: Jets QB Geno Smith vs. himself
That’s right. There is no individual battle in this game that supersedes the one the Jets rookie is having with himself in recent weeks. Smith has not thrown a touchdown pass since Oct. 20, before the World Series began.
Smith has six interceptions in his past three games and has appeared lost at times. Rex Ryan had a short leash for Smith last week, benching him at halftime for Matt Simms. You would have to think the same plan will be in place Sunday. The Raiders have 13 interceptions this season and will be looking for more.
Back-ing out
Just who will be available to run the ball for the Raiders on Sunday remains a mystery. Darren McFadden is out with an ankle injury. Rashad Jennings, the team’s leading rusher, was limited all week because of a concussion and is questionable to play. Third-string back Jeremy Stewart also is out. So who exactly will run the ball?
Things got so bad this week in practice the Raiders had Taiwan Jones, a converted cornerback, playing running back. When healthy, the Raiders have had a good rushing attack. They rank fifth in the NFL at 133.1 rushing yards per game. It would be interesting to see the Jets defense, ranked No. 1 against the run, against a tough running team.
Welcome back
The Jets are as healthy on offense as they’ve been in two months. WR Jeremy Kerley (elbow) will play Sunday after missing the past three games and WR Santonio Holmes (hamstring) is expected to be able to play more than the two snaps he saw last week.
This should help Smith and offense immensely. The Jets are 0-4 this year without Kerley, who helps move the chains on third down. It will also allow the Jets to play to their players’ strengths.
“You get to the point where it’s, ‘We have to fit you where we can fit you,’ ” WR David Nelson said. “ ‘We can’t worry about what you do well. We just need bodies.’ You just get away from the things individual players do well and just force them to do what you have to do. Now we have options. Now we have depth. We can say, ‘David, what do you do well?’ and let’s put you in that position, as opposed to every week me having to learn a new position and guys were shuffling in and out. We didn’t know who would be playing until Friday, Saturday afternoon so we really didn’t get to practice the way we wanted to. It was a lot of unknown.”
QB mystery
The Jets had to prepare for two quarterbacks this week: Rookie Matt McGloin, who has played the past four games for the Raiders; and Terrelle Pryor, who has missed time with a knee injury. Pryor now is healthy, but Raiders coach Dennis Allen said McGloin will keep the starter’s job. Still, the Raiders may have a package of plays for Pryor, who is a more athletic quarterback than McGloin and could cause the Jets headaches with his legs.
Last season, Colin Kaepernick came off the bench for the 49ers against the Jets and ran all over them. The Jets have worked this week on both Raiders quarterbacks, one that reminds the Jets of their former quarterback.
“We have two game plans,” defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said. “One for their Greg McElroy [McGloin] and one for Terrelle Pryor. Doesn’t he look like McElroy to you? He looks just like McElroy to me. We have a game plan for him and a game plan for Terrelle Pryor.”
Keeping Geno clean
The Jets have surrendered 11 sacks over their past three games. It has been a total failure from the offensive line, tight ends and running backs. Communication seems to be terrible and rookie left guard Brian Winters has been a turnstile.
The Raiders blitz a lot. They have brought five or more rushers on 44 percent of the time their opponent has dropped back, the third highest total in the league, according to ESPN stats. If the Jets can’t keep the Raiders out of Smith’s face, the offense has no chance of succeeding.
Numbers to know
114: Plays since the Jets last scored a touchdown. Their more recent end-zone visit came in Buffalo three weeks ago.
12: Consecutive losses by the Raiders in the Eastern Time Zone. Their last win came on Dec. 6, 2009, at Pittsburgh.
125: Consecutive starts for Jets left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson with a start Sunday, the longest streak in team history.
Costello’s call
The Jets are bad. The Raiders are worse. You can’t trust Oakland coming to New Jersey to play a 1 p.m. game. The return of Jeremy Kerley will help Geno Smith, and the Jets actually will score a few touchdowns.
Jets 24, Raiders 20