New York Jets Playoff Scenarios: What Do They Need to Get In?

If the Cincinnati Bengals lose to the Baltimore Ravens in Cincinnati, the Tennessee Titans lose to the Houston Texans in Houston and if the Denver Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in Denver or the Oakland Raiders lose to the San Diego Chargers in Oakland, believe it or not, the New York Jets can actually sneak into the playoffs with a win over the Miami Dolphins in Miami.

Yes, that is three games that must break the right way for the Jets.

If the Jets can pull out a win, the scoreboard watching will start. The Jets game is one of the early games, along with the Titans game. If the Titans win, and the game finishes up before the Jets game, the Jets season could be over even before their game ends.

If the Titans don't win, three late games, Chiefs vs. Broncos, Bengals vs. Ravens and Raiders vs. Chargers, keep the Jets season alive.

New York put themselves in this wait-and-see position. The two big losses that come to mind are the Broncos game, where the Jets got Tebowed, allowing Tim Tebow to run for the game-winning TD, and the most recent game against the Giants, where the Jets appeared to be in control before giving up the 99-yard TD to Victor Cruz.

The Jets season is held in the mercy of other teams, some who control their own playoff destiny. The Broncos and Bengals are both in with a win.

If the New York Jets want to at least do their part and beat the Dolphins, they must;  

Stop Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush has proven this season which most thought was not possible, and that is to be a team's featured running back. For the first time in his career, Bush was able to surpass 1,000 rushing yards. As it stands, he has rushed for 1,086 yards through 15 games.

His most productive rushing season before this season was in 2007, when he rushed for 581 yards.

Bush has found his stride this season. In each of his last four games, he has rushed for at least 100 yards. His strongest game of the season came two weeks ago against the Buffalo Bills, when he ran for 203 yards.

Behind Bush's strong running, the Miami Dolphins were able to split their last four games.

The Jets need to sure up their run defense. In the last five games, three teams ran over 100 yards total. They also allowed seven rushing TDs.

One bright spot for the Jets is that Bush is listed as questionable due to a knee injury he suffered last week.

In Week 5, the Jets held Bush to just 71 rushing yards. However, he only had 10 carries.

No Big Plays

After going up early on the New York Giants on a first quarter TD last week, the New York Jets looked to be in full control of the game.

The Jets forced the Giants to punt on four of their first five drives. On one drive, the Giants kicked a 53-yard field goal.

Then with 2:37 left in the first half and with the Giants backed up to their own 1-yard line, Eli Manning connected with Victor Cruz on a short pass that Cruz was able to take it 99 yards for the TD after he broke a tackle.

This one play changed everything.

The Miami Dolphins are capable of the big play just like the Giants. Instead of Manning to Cruz, it's Matt Moore to Brandon Marshall.

At 6'4", 230 lbs., Marshall is the type of physical receiver who looks for contact to break tackles to get his yards after the catch. He is currently tied for fifth in the league for receptions.

Darrelle Revis might have to have an even better game than he had against him in Week 5. Although Marshall was able to go over 100 receiving yards during that game, it wasn't Revis who he burned, it was Antonio Cromartie.

Rex Ryan may have to stick Revis on Marshall for the whole game this time around. 

Last week, against the New England Patriots, Marshall had seven catches for 139 yards. 

Brodney Pool's Play

With starting safety Jim Leonhard's season ending early due to injury for the second straight year, Brodney Pool must step his game up.

Pool must make the right reads and make strong tackles if Brandon Marshall or Miami Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano breaks into the secondary.

Fasano was out the last game against the New England Patriots, the week before, he had two receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown.

The Jets were able to hold him to just one catch for 13 yards in Week 5 but Fasano has had success in the past, catching four TDs in the six games he has played against them.

Offensive Line Play/Running Game

Last week, the New York Jets offensive line did their best impression of a revolving door, allowing the New York Giants to five sacks and six QB hits.

The Miami Dolphins rank ninth overall in the league with 39 sacks, so stopping their pass-rush will not be easy, but it must be done if they want a shot at winning this game.

The line also has to do a better job of opening up running lanes for Shonn Greene. Last week, Greene was held to just 58 rushing yards.

The low rushing output was not all the offensive line's fault but they do deserve some of the blame. Against the New York Giants, Greene carried the ball only 14 times while Mark Sanchez threw the ball 59 times.

The Jets need to get back to a balanced attack on offense, featuring an even amount of running and passing plays.

Where Did Clutch Mark Sanchez Go?

That was not the clutch Mark Sanchez I thought would show up against the New York Giants.

I thought the Jets were going to get "postseason Sanchez", not "turnover-prone Sanchez". Instead, the Jets got a taste of what Sanchez can do with an early first quarter TD drive before he transformed into a very uncomfortable looking QB.

The game plan took Sanchez out of his comfort zone. He is not a QB, at least not yet, who passes the ball for 59 times a game and it showed. He connected on just 30 of his 59 throws for 258 yards.

Sanchez threw one really bad interception on a very ill-advised read.

The "postseason Sanchez" has to show up against the Miami Dolphins. The one that raises his completion percentage. The one who protects the ball and who only takes shots when he has to and at the opportune time.

In Week 5 against the Dolphins, Sanchez played well. In a turnover-free game, he completed 14 of 25 passes for 201 yards while throwing for a TD and running for one. The offensive line was also able to limit Miami to just two sacks.

The last game against Miami, the Jets came out on top 24-6, they must find a way to win this one, then pray and wait to see if games break their way.