NFL

Jets humiliated by Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA — The Jets look like a Super Bowl contender right now about as much as Rosie O’Donnell looks like a threat for Miss America.

Rex Ryan’s crew delivered an embarrassing performance yesterday, losing an ugly 45-19 game to the Eagles to end their three-game winning streak and set up a do-or-die game with the Giants on Saturday.

The Jets did everything wrong in the game, committing four turnovers, allowing the Eagles to run roughshod over their defense and wilting under the pressure of the Eagles defense.

“Obviously, a horrendous performance by us, that goes without saying,” Ryan said. “That was about as bad as it gets.”

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Fortunately for the Jets, the loss did little to affect their playoff hopes. If they win out, they should make the playoffs. At 8-6, they are tied with the Bengals for the final AFC wild-card spot, but they hold a tiebreaker edge over Cincinnati. If both teams win their final two games, they will be tied in conference record and common opponents. The next tiebreaker is strength of victory, which can change over the next two weeks, but the Jets currently hold a 10-game advantage.

Mathematics aside, the Jets looked nothing like a playoff team against the Eagles (6-8). Philadelphia rolled up 420 yards, the second-highest total the Jets have allowed this season. Michael Vick destroyed the Jets defense, throwing for 274 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-22 and running for a score. Running back LeSean McCoy ran for three touchdowns. Tight end Brent Celek burned the Jets with 156 yards receiving.

“We hurt ourselves, turnovers, big plays, penalties. You name it, we did it wrong,” linebacker Calvin Pace said. “Any time you come into a team’s home, I don’t care who you’re playing, you turn the ball over and you don’t play sound, you’re going to get beat. It’s lucky they had a heart and stopped scoring because if not it could have got really disgusting.”

The 45 points were the most allowed by the Jets this season and match the most allowed since Ryan became head coach.

The Eagles put the Jets away early, jumping out to a 28-0 lead in the second quarter, scoring three touchdowns after turnovers.

“If we want to go to the Super Bowl, we’ve got to play a lot better than we did today,” wide receiver Santonio Holmes said.

Holmes was culprit No. 1 for the Jets. On the Jets’ first drive, he fumbled, and defensive end Juqua Parker picked it up and ran 47 yards for the Eagles’ first score. A few minutes later, Holmes had a ball go off his fingertips in the red zone and into cornerback Asante Samuel’s arms for an interception. Vick then led the Eagles down the field on a seven-play, 77-yard drive finished off with Celek’s 26-yard touchdown that gave the Eagles a 14-0 advantage that felt like 40-0.

“When your best player turns the ball over twice, directly, I mean, that’s a disappointment,” Ryan said. “But that was kind of the way the day was. We all can look in the mirror and find fault.”

Ryan’s defense was embarrassed. Jets defenders said the Eagles players were calling out their coverages before the snap. Vick appeared to be in the Jets’ heads all day.

“[It] looked like we were scared to death to go after him,” Ryan said.

All hope was extinguished at the start of the second half when the Jets failed to move the ball on their first drive, then punted to the Eagles’ 11-yard line. Three plays in, Vick hit Celek with a 73-yard pass that brought the Eagles to the Jets’ 1. McCoy plunged in from there for his second touchdown to make it 35-13 and end all hope for the Jets.

Mark Sanchez had two interceptions and a fumble and suffered an injury in the third quarter. It appeared he hurt his right neck/shoulder area, possibly a stinger. The trainers worked on Sanchez and he did not miss a series.

The Jets can lose next week and remain alive for the playoffs. But their focus is on beating the Giants and Dolphins on Jan. 1 to make the playoffs.

“If we don’t win, we’re not going,” safety Eric Smith said. “We have to win.”