Playoffs Well Within Reach for New York Jets After Week 14 Win

It's Week 14, and the New York Jets are in the thick of the playoff discussion.

Over the past three weeks, they've been led to three straight victories by high-level play at the quarterback position. They've given up just 48 points, among the 10 best defenses in the league in that span. 

No need to pinch yourselves, Jets fans. You are not David after the dentist. This is real life.

We are just three weeks away from the end of the season, and at 8-5, the Jets are among the front-runners for a wild-card spot in the AFC. Along with the Kansas City Chiefs (8-5), the Jets are on the inside track ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5), Buffalo Bills (6-7), Indianapolis Colts (6-7) and Houston Texans (6-6). 

If the Jets keep playing the way they've played over the past three weeks, there's no doubt they'll finish ahead of those teams as one of two teams playing on the road in Wild Card Weekend. 

The Jets headed into Week 14 as one of the league's 10 best offenses in total offense and ranked 11th in scoring, but they'll be inside the top 10 scoring offenses after putting up a 30-burger on the Tennessee Titans. Of late, the offense has been the unit carrying the Jets to success, and it's been thanks to the dominance of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

"

Ryan Fitzpatrick the past three games: 79 of 123 (64.2) for 930 yards, 9 TDs and zero interceptions.

— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) December 13, 2015"

Fitzpatrick has played efficient, error-free football over the past few games and is now on a streak of 123 straight passes in which he hasn't thrown an interception.

That's exactly the way he needs to play in order for the Jets to remain on track, but with the running game stepping up in a big way, perhaps the Jets will get more balance going forward. On Sunday, Chris Ivory carried the ball 22 times and earned 101 rushing yards (4.6 YPA), and his teammates adding 12 carries and 82 yards for a team total of 34 carries for 183 yards.

Of course, it helps when a quarterback has two very talented receivers like Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. On Sunday, they combined for 13 catches, 199 yards and two touchdowns. This is just the latest dominant performance in a season full of them from these two. 

Marshall and Decker are undoubtedly two of the best receivers to ever suit up for the Jets, and they're suiting up for the Jets at the same time; now they have the stats to prove it. 

But it's not just been Fitzpatrick and the offense that's stepped up in a big way. The Jets invested heavily in their defense this offseason, and that unit has proven worthy of its high price tag. 

But we've seen the Jets play at a high level on both sides of the ball in fits and spurts this season already. That's why they started the 2015 season with a 4-1 record, only to wind up with a 1-4 stretch that halted all the positive momentum they had built. 

Then, the past three weeks happened. 

There is a cautionary tale to be had here, as the Jets are well aware. In 2011, the Jets were 8-5 and appeared headed for a third-straight postseason berth. Three losses later, the Jets were out of the playoffs, and they haven't been back since. 

But all the Jets need is two wins in their final three games to lock up their first trip to the playoffs since 2010.