Weak AFC preserving Jets’ faint playoff hopes with no excuses left

The Jets have been number-crunching all week, still believing the team has a chance to salvage their season and make a playoff push. 

It seems ridiculous entering Sunday’s game against the Colts, but even at 3-7, the Jets are just two games out of the final playoff spot in the AFC. 

“The big thing is, as much as people are sick of talking about it, the math still gives us a chance,” tight end Tyler Conklin said. “I think we realize that as a team, and we know we’ve got to stick to the process and keep having good weeks of practice and get it to carry over to Sundays.” 

Fans are tired of hearing about how good the Jets have looked in practice.

It’s time to see it on a Sunday.

They were blown out 31-6 in Arizona last week and looked terrible on both sides of the ball. 

Now, they get the 4-6 Colts at MetLife Stadium.

The Colts arrive with issues of their own to work out.

Indianapolis is turning back to Anthony Richardson at quarterback.

Richardson started the first four games, then missed two with a hip injury, then started two more games before getting benched for Joe Flacco for two games.

Richardson has had rough second season, completing 44 percent of his passes and throwing seven interceptions and just four touchdowns. 

He is the second-youngest starting quarterback in the NFL at 22 years old.

The Jets counter with the oldest starting quarterback with 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers.

The future Hall of Famer has looked mortal this season.

He threw three second-half touchdown passes against the Texans two weeks ago but had no touchdowns last week against the Cardinals. 

“This is a chance for us to go into the bye week feeling good about ourselves, getting everybody back healthy and then looking realistically at the last six games,” Rodgers said. “There’s, I think, a lot of things to be hopeful for, but we’ve got to win this weekend.” 

The Jets have lost six of seven games, and the season feels all but over.

They have dealt with plenty of adversity this season and most people have written them off.

Still, the weak AFC provides hope. 

“The verdict’s still not out on this season yet, but I think it’s always a challenge when they’re singing your praises or tearing it down outside the building,” Rodgers said. “It’s an important challenge.”