Let me be clear: The Jets won’t be hosting Super Bowl XLVIII in their stadium.
But I have seen enough from them, seen enough mediocre imposters elsewhere, to guarantee the Jets, aka the laughingstock Jets, the circus Jets, will make the playoffs.
“You can ask everybody in here and they’ll tell you that we’re a playoff team,” Sheldon Richardson told The Post.
The Jets are a throwback team navigating a quarterback-driven league. If Geno Smith cuts down on the interceptions, he will drive them into the postseason.
“That’s our goal, make the playoffs and go from there,” Kellen Winslow said. “I don’t see why we can’t win them all, though.”
Winslow is expected back for the playoff push. And barring a setback, it could be Tone Time — Santonio Holmes, a sight for sore eyes at practice Monday, as well.
“It puts a smile on my face to have those guys back,” Smith said.
The Patriots next face a Monday nighter in Carolina and then Peyton Manning and the Broncos six days later, but the Jets know better than to fantasize about finding themselves tied atop the division in two weeks.
“There’s a bounce in their step, like ‘Man, let’s play,’ ” coach Rex Ryan said.
Why the Jets will make the playoffs:
Sunday at Buffalo: EJ Manuel is rusty and reeling. Ryan, with two weeks to prepare for Manuel, is better than Mike Pettine with one week to prepare for Smith. On the other hand, it’s tough sweeping a division opponent, and Smith has mostly struggled on the road, and Bills safety Jairus Byrd is back. Top corner Stephon Gilmore (wrist) is struggling, however, beaten on a fade by Jerricho Cotchery for a touchdown Sunday.
“Their comfort level at home is huge,” Willie Colon said. “They play stronger, they play faster. When that crowd gets behind ’em, it can be a very hostile environment. We have to come out swinging. We got to bring our hardhats.”
Jets receiver David Nelson will be bringing his. He found out the Bills cut him on Twitter. But Ryan falls to 1-4 after byes. Roller-coaster Jets lose and fall to 5-5.
Nov. 24 at Baltimore: A forbidding place where a desperate team with a championship heart waits in ambush. The Jets’ defensive line should dominate the line of scrimmage, and is that Ray Rice or Condoleezza Rice? Lady Cro thinks her man can handle Torrey Smith in a game with huge wild-card implications.
“I like getting booed,” Richardson said. “When the crowd goes quiet, you feel like you’re at practice, it’s your stadium. Then they start booing their own team, then you know you took their house over.”
No Ed Reed for Smith to worry about.
“You can’t put things on your shoulders, you can’t try and be a hero, you can’t make plays on your own,” Smith said.
Jets win, go to 6-5.
Dec. 1 vs. Miami: Forget about a greenout, Rex implores Jets fans to wear Richie Incognito masks inside MetLife. Ryan Tannehill will be under siege, leaving Mike Wallace frustrated again. “We’re a team, that’s who we are,” Ryan said. “I think that makes us dangerous.”
Jets finally win second straight to get to 7-5.
Dec. 8 vs. Oakland: A second cross-country trip in four weeks for Terrelle Pryor? Good luck with that. Chris Ivory Andre Browns the Silver & Black.
Surging Jets win again, moving to 8-5.
Dec. 15 at Carolina: Pryor was a nice warmup for Cam Newton, but Smith hasn’t seen a front seven this good. He won’t like the tapes of Eli Manning and Colin Kaepernick getting their heads handed to them.
Jets lose to fall to 8-6, but at least it’s outside the conference.
Dec. 22 vs. Cleveland: A low-scoring slugfest that very well could come down to a late Nick Folk field goal. Cromartie blankets Josh Gordon, and Antonio Allen limits tight end Jordan Cameron.
“I was released by Cleveland after the last preseason game, so for four weeks, I was at home,” Nelson said.
A second revenge game for him, and one for Josh Cribbs as well. But you know the Jets. Just when you think it’s safe to hop aboard the bandwagon … a Jason Campbell fake spike burns Dee Milliner for the game-winning dagger, dropping Jets to 8-7.
Dec. 29 at Miami: Jets fans show up in force in their Incognito masks.
Rex gives a fiery Saturday night speech for the ages, pleading with his players not to make it about him, even though no one had planned on making it about him.
Jets win and, at 9-7, earn the AFC sixth seed, general manager John Idzik makes like Yogi to Rex’s Don Larsen, lame-duck Rex earns contract extension, Happy New Year.
“Being in this league long enough, once you’re in the dance, just bring your shoes,” Colon said, “ ’cause it’s all 0-0 from there. We just got to get to the dance floor.”
Boogie.