NFL Playoff Predictions: Jets Will Hold onto AFC Wild Card Spot

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan reportedly came out and said the Jets were the "best team in the city" on Monday, right before the Jets get set to face the New York Giants in Week 16.

Said Ryan, via ESPN:

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"There's no way I'm going to be second fiddle. If we were playing the New York Yankees, I don't want to be second fiddle to them. This is the same type of deal. I want to be the best team in football, not just the best team in this city. But we'll start by being the best team in this city."

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And although I expect the Jets to lose to the Giants in Week 16, the Jets will still claim the final wild card spot in the AFC.

The 8-6 Jets haven't been the top-tier team they were expected to be this season. They've beaten mediocre teams, while losing to better foes. In Week 15, they got blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles, 45-19.

And while the Giants just lost to the Washington Redskins, 23-10, they also exhibited better play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14, winning a 37-34 thriller.

I still can't get over the fact that the Jets have Mark Sanchez as their starting quarterback, and I think he's going to disappoint in Week 16.

If the Jets lost to the Giants, they go on to face the 5-9 Miami Dolphins. I see Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore struggling in that game and the Jets winning.

There is still a lot of football to be played, and the final wild card spot in the AFC is still within reach for several teams.

But the Jets have the best chance to capture the final spot, even if they lost to the Giants in Week 16.

In the end, the Jets may be aided more by a mediocre conference than by actually earning that final wild card spot.