As former New York Met Tug McGraw used to say, "ya gotta believe."

Unable to do the probable last week against the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Jets took a giant step back into the playoff hunt today by doing the impossible and defeating the Indianapolis Colts 28-15 to spoil a perfect 14-0 run while snapping a 23-game regular season streak, the longest in NFL history.

The Jets, now 3-1 in December are sitting pretty in the #5 spot as the #1 Wildcard leap frogged over the Miami Dolphins as well as the Baltimore Ravens who both lost Sunday along with the Denver Broncos. With just one game to play, the Jets are now back in firm grasp of their own destiny should they close Giants Stadium in grand style come January 3rd with a win over the playoff-bound Cincinnati Bengals.

The Jets needed an "inside straight" of sorts on Sunday and things looked very good going into the afternoon start as the Dolphins were getting hammered by the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers camefrom behind to keep their playoff hopes also simmering at the same 8-7. The Jets received the added benefit of the high flying Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) defeating the Denver Broncos (8-7) which dropped them from #5 to #6 in the AFC seedings!

Unlike last week, the Jets were disciplined and refused to abandon the running game at any cost which they did at home in the Meadowlands. This week, the offense was focused and for the most part turnover free as the Jets easily won their most important game in years!

With over 200 yards on the ground, the Jets took time off the clock and let the defense do the talking.

A vicious sack forced a quarterback fumble and the Jets took advantage of in the red zone to put seven points on the board. But the game breaker was fan favorite Brad Smith, who ran back a 107-yard kickoff for a touchdown, further proving why he is without question the most dangerous and exciting weapon on the team's roster since the injury to Leon Washington!

But it was the Jet defense that shut-down the "Manning-less" Colts in the second-half to close the sale with a Thomas Jones touchdown with about 5 minutes to play. With over 40 running plays from scrimmage, the Jets did what they do best and regardless of the Colt personnel on the field, they could not stop this running game which seems to get better all the time.

The win proved the New York Jets not to be quitters in the worst of scenarios as the football gods from above made it possible for the team to somehow find a way to will themselves back into a playoff picture that seemed almost impossible just a few hours before game time!

Instead of being on the outside looking at 8-7, the Jets are now the #5 seed and a win in the Meadowlands will send them to the post season for the fifth time in this decade!

For the first time this year, you got the feeling the Jets figured it out offensively with the right mix of passes and runs as rookie Mark Sanchez was not put in the position to win the contest, but simply manage the outcome as Gang Green played to their strength all afternoon!

With the Bengals solidified in the AFC tournament, the Jets could again find themselves in a contest where Cincinnati Head Coach Marvin Lewis might be sitting and resting some folks as the Jets look to retain their current wildcard status.

In what can be described as the most efficient and complete effort of the season against an undefeated Colt squad, the Jets look more and more like a very dangerous team that could do damage in the playoffs. The running game is on all cylinders and the defense continues to play aggressive and physical football that's essential for any post season success.

Head Coach Rex Ryan and Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer seemed to shorten the playbook as the Jets made it very clear they were going to run the ball and force the Colts to stop them. Add a great special teams touchdown and defensive turnover deep in Colt territory, and the New York Jets today looked like they belonged in the playoff picture. With the exception of a failed double-reverse, the play calling was stellar by Schottenheimer.

How deep the Jets can go remains to be determined, but today's win went to the character of this coach as well as the players who seemed determined no matter what the odds to make amends for last week's 10-7 disaster against the Atlanta Falcons.

So just like that from the brink of elimination the New York Jets are seemingly in the driver's seat with a win at home and back in the post season for the first time since 2006.

For the Jets are playing winning December football that could translate to being a very tough out in the AFC tournament should they hold serve and clinch the #5 spot come Sunday in Giants Stadium!

This was a win for the fans. This was a Christmas gift from the football gods!

How sweet it is!