...must win next 2 games ~ ~

[kelly]

— The Jets, once 4-1, have lost three of their past four games. They're 5-4, in case you're bad at math, after Thursday night's 22-17 loss to the Bills. They're now 1-2 in November, which is a huge month in the NFL. 

That's when teams with playoff aspirations either position themselves for postseason spots, or see those hopes fade away. 

If the Jets want to avoid being in that latter group, they absolutely need to regroup and take care of business the next two weeks — with a road game against 3-5 Houston, and a home meeting with 3-5 Miami. "It's critical," said Buster Skrine, the Jets' slot cornerback. "It's still November. We've got to win these games. We don't want to be scratching in December, trying to get into the playoffs. So these games are critical. We lost this game [to the Bills], so it makes it harder on us these next couple of games." 

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall downplayed the level of concern in the Jets' locker room. 

"I wouldn't say concerned," he said. "We have to win. It's as simple as that. You want to play your best ball in November and December. We've got to figure out how we can get back on the right side of the column."

Entering Sunday's games, the Jets, Bills, and Steelers are the AFC's only non-division leaders with winning records. The Bills and Steelers are also 5-4. So the AFC's shortcomings this season should help teams, like the Jets, that are jockeying for a wildcard spot. (The Patriots are 8-0, so an AFC East title almost certainly isn't happening for the Jets or Bills this year.) 

These next two games look very winnable for the Jets.

They'll have extra rest heading to Houston, which probably will be 3-6 after visiting the 8-0 Bengals this week on Monday night. (So the Texans won't even be on normal rest when they host the well-rested Jets.) The Dolphins, losers of two straight, visit the Eagles and host the Cowboys the next two weeks. Dallas, at 2-6, has looked miserable. But the Cowboys are expected to get quarterback Tony Romo back for that game in Miami. After the Jets play the Texans and Dolphins these next two weeks, they have four fairly tough games out of their final five. The only easy-looking game is a home matchup with the Titans. The Jets also play the Giants (a "road" game to open December), visit the Cowboys and the Bills, and host the Patriots. 

The Jets' final two games — against the Patriots and Bills — have a chance to be compelling, if the Jets are competing for a playoff spot. But they first must do enough to finish November, in order to ensure those games actually matter. 

>       http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/jets_dont_want_to_be_scratching_in_december_for_pl.html#incart_river_index

[kelly]

Bills move ahead of Jets in race for No. 5 seed in the AFC

Posted by Michael David Smith on November 13, 2015, 6:36 AM EST

AP

In this year’s AFC wild card race, the difference between the No. 5 seed and the No. 6 seed is huge. Which makes the Bills’ win over the Jets last night huge.

The 5-4 Bills are now the No. 5 seed in the AFC, thanks to last night’s head-to-head win over the 5-4 Jets, who are No. 6 thanks to their better conference games record than the 5-4 Steelers.

In the AFC this year, the No. 5 seed will get to play the winner of the AFC South, which could be a 7-9 or even 6-10 team, and will likely be one of the worst division winners in NFL history. The No. 6 seed will have to play the No. 3 seed, which will be the Patriots, Bengals or Broncos. If you’re an AFC wild card team, you’ve got a much better chance of advancing past the first round of the playoffs as the 5 seed than the 6 seed.

The Jets and Bills play again, in Buffalo, in Week 17. The 5 seed may be on the line.

>     http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/11/13/bills-move-ahead-of-jets-in-race-for-no-5-seed-in-the-afc/

[BroadwayJoe12]

I too, think we should win the next two games.