NFL Week 16 Picks: Rex Ryan's Jets Will Prevail in Battle of New York

The New York Giants and the New York Jets enter Week 16's Battle of New York controlling their own destinies for the 2011 NFL playoffs. 

The New York Giants can win the NFC East and host a playoff game if they win on Saturday and in Week 17. If they lose, they will need some help and must beat the Dallas Cowboys in the final regular season game of the year.

The New York Jets will earn a spot as a Wild Card team in the AFC if they finish out their final two games with victories. If they lose, they will need some help and hope the Cincinnati Bengals get knocked off.

Basically, Saturday's battle for the "Big Apple" between the blue and green constituents is a big, big deal. Both teams are vying for a playoff spot, and both teams control their own destiny.

However, Rex Ryan's Jets will come out victorious on Saturday as they dampen the hopes of their blue co-op neighbors.

Jets Thrive at Home

Aside from their annual preseason matchup, the New York Jets and New York Giants have yet to play each other in the new Meadowlands for a game that matters.

They are playing for the unofficial naming rights of the stadium on Saturday.

The Giants have won the last four regular season meetings.

The last time the Jets won was in 1993.

NFL teams, much like baseball teams, are built for different types of surfaces and geographic locations. Hence why teams set out every year to gain home-field advantage.

The New York Jets are built for the Meadowlands and the Northeast in December and January. They are a team designed to possess the ball and control the game. They pound the ball and have a hard-nosed defense.

The Jets are currently 6-1 at home and 2-5 on the road. In the two years at their new digs, the Jets' overall home record is 11-4, which is a winning percentage of .733.

The Giants are currently 3-4 at home and 4-3 on the road. In the two years at the new Meadowlands, the Giants' overall record is 8-7, which is a winning percentage of .533.

Rex Ryan's football team is clearly the better home team. The reverse side of the coin shows that the Giants are the better road team.

Although technically the Giants will be playing on the road Saturday, they're still playing in their house, which gives the advantage to the Jets.

Shonn Greene Is Hot in December

The New York Jets have certainly been delighted to see Shonn Greene return back to his old ways recently.

The running back who exploded onto the scene during the first run of successive trips to the AFC Championship game in 2009 has reemerged in 2011.

Greene has been tearing it up for the Jets in December.

He has had 64 rushes for 290 yards, which is an average of 4.53 yards per carry.

Greene should surpass the 1,000-yard plateau on Saturday with only 59 yards to go.

He has also doubled the amount of trips to the end zone from the first three months of the season in December, with four touchdowns in three games. The man has hit his stride.

The New York Giants have not exactly been able to stop the run in 2011, either. Their run defense ranks 22nd in the league, allowing an average of 127.6 rushing yards per game.

No. 23 will need to be a big part of Rex Ryan's game plan if the Jets want to keep their playoff hopes alive. There are three key reasons why Ryan will look to get Greene involved early and often.

First, to let Mark Sanchez settle into the game with some easy throws off play action.

Second, to keep his defense fresh, and there's no better way to do that than to have them sitting on the bench.

Third, to keep Eli Manning off the field.

Greene's involvement and production will be a huge key to Saturday's game and a victory for the team in green.

Mark Sanchez Is the Better Version of Tim Tebow

They run the ball first and foremost.

They have a great kicker and special teams unit.

Their defense is rock solid and helps keep them in the game.

Their quarterback is no Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees but has four fourth-quarter comebacks or game-winning drives in 2011.

No, I'm not referring to Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. That's the M.O. of Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets in 2011.

While many of you have been fixated on a quarterback who runs a high school offense and plays well at an NFL level for the final five minutes of each game, Mark Sanchez has been quietly having a solid season. The numbers between Tebow and Sanchez are like water and wine.

Now, compared to his New York counterpart Eli Manning, Sanchez is average. However, what Sanchez has been doing in 2011 has kept the Jets alive.

Sanchez has thrown 23 touchdowns and 13 interceptions but has five rushing touchdowns to add to his total. His numbers at home far outweigh his numbers on the road.

At home, Sanchez has thrown 15 touchdown passes and seven interceptions and rushed for four touchdowns. Rex Ryan has managed Sanchez throughout his time in New York, but when he's in the friendly confines of the Meadowlands, Ryan loosens the grip on Sanchez's leash.

Don't be surprised if Sanchez leads the Jets to victory on Saturday with his play and not his game-management skills.

Rex Ryan Getting It Done Late

Rex Ryan has established his reputation in the NFL after almost three full years at the helm of the New York Jets.

He's brash and outspoken, and his players love him.

His proclamations and stand-up comedy routines at the podium turn most people off, but the man gets his team to play when it counts.

Two consecutive AFC Championship games in his first two years is not a coincidence or happenstance. Ryan knows that you want to be hot late, not in September.

Refer to the Buffalo Bills if you need evidence for that.

The Jets are only 3-3 since the midway point in 2011. However, with two games to go, they could easily finish out their season winning five of their last six games as they charge into the playoffs.

Ryan's team is having a similar season to their first AFC Championship run in 2009. That season, they stumbled out of the gates going 3-6 in their first nine games. Then they went on a run, winning five of their last six games and catapulting themselves into the playoffs.

Shonn Greene emerged at running back. Mark Sanchez began to figure things out toward the end of his rookie season.

Sound familiar?

Say what you want about Ryan's professional demeanor—or lack thereof—but the man knows how and when to light a fire under his team.

Saturday's game against the Giants will just be a part of the protocol as the Jets look to take off into the playoffs.