The Rundown: Debunking the Jets' Playoff Myth

On Sept. 25, the Giants and Jets both stood at 3-0. Eleven weeks later, they once again share identical records, this time 7-6. A look at the last month, however, points to the Jets as New York's hotter team. Gang Green has won three in a row to climb back into the AFC playoff race, while the G-Men have dropped six of eight in a collapse that may soon rank among the worst in NFL history. Surely the Jets are more likely to make the postseason, playing on wild card weekend while Eli Manning plays shuffleboard in Boca Raton. Right?

Actually... no.

NEW YORK JETS: Led by backup quarterback Kellen Clemens, the Jets rolled over the hapless Bucs, 26-3, and are now tied with three other teams for the second AFC wild card spot. The Jets played to their strengths, rushing for 175 yards and holding Tampa Bay to 125 total yards. It was a vintage Rex Ryan performance.

But guess what, Jets fans? The win came against the Bucs (1-12). Just like the last win came against the Bills (5-8) and one before came against the Panthers (5-8). In fact, the Jets have beaten exactly one team this year with a winning record: the Pats in Week 2. And that was with a healthy Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington.

That trend will have to change for Gang Green to make the playoffs. You have to figure the sixth AFC playoff team will finish at least 9-7, so the Jets have to win at least two of their last three games. After a date with Atlanta (6-7) next week, the Jets close with the Colts (13-0) and the Bengals (9-4). Indy will most likely be playing for an undefeated season, while the Bengals may still be battling for the No. 2 seed and a bye week. If the Jets want to turn 4-6 into a playoff spot, they will need to win one of those games. Good luck.

NEW YORK GIANTS: Late in the third quarter of Big Blue's 45-38 loss to the Eagles, NBC ran a "Giants Miscues" recap, showing the Giants' many missed opportunities and bonehead plays. The "highlights" were more than two minutes long. And that was before the fourth quarter.

From Michael Boley's drop of a potential interception/fumble to four lost fumbles on offense to three drops on long passes by Hakeem Nicks to a punt return for a touchdown by DeSean Jackson to three passes of 30+ yards allowed by the defense (phew! finally done), the G-Men could not get out of their own way in the most important game of the season. The Giants racked up 512 total yards -- and lost. They held the Eagles to just 77 yards rushing -- and lost. They won the first down battle, controlled the ball longer and converted a higher percentage of third downs -- and lost. They scored 38 points -- and lost.

Amazingly, the Giants remain in a great position to grab the final NFC wild card spot. Tom Coughlin's squad should send Wade Phillips and Tony Romo holiday cards thanking them for yet another December collapse, as the Cowboys have lost two straight and face the 13-0 Saints next week. Meanwhile, the Giants play the hapless Redskins, the black sheep of the NFC East. If the Giants win and the Cowboys lose (as they both should), the teams would have identical 8-6 records, and the Giants hold the tiebreaker edge because they swept the season series. This time next week, the Giants could actually control their playoff destiny. Anyone who watched last night's debacle knows how incredible that is.

NEW YORK YANKEES: The latest from the continuously shifting free-agent landscape: The Angels are courting Hideki Matsui to be their DH, while the Yankees' negotiations to bring Johnny Damon back have stalled. Oh, and the Red Sox signed power pitcher John Lackey. Always nice to see baseball's superpowers up the ante.

NEW YORK METS: They're looking to sign free-agent outfielder Jason Bay. In other news, Tony Bernazard shot a 78 at Pebble Beach over the weekend, then ripped off his shirt and challenged the local caddies to a fight.

(OK, I made that up. But one more time folks, give it up for your 2009 New York Mets!)

NEW YORK KNICKS: I can explain the Knicks recent stretch of (gasp) over-.500 basketball in two words: Message received.

After guard Nate Robinson jokingly shot on his own basket -- and made it -- at the end of the first quarter against the Nets three weeks ago, I gave him the New York Sports Turkey of the Year award. Coach Mike D'Antoni had his own gift for Robinson -- a permanent seat at the end of the bench.

On Dec. 1, Robinson played 11 minutes against the Suns, notching one rebound and two assists. Since then, he has been rooted to the bench, getting the dreaded "DNP: Coach's Decision" in the last five games. D'Antoni's unspoken message to his players was obvious: If you screw around and put having fun before winning, you will not play.

The message has clearly gotten through to the Knicks, who have been all about winning this December. The team is 5-1 so far this month, the lone loss coming on the road against the Magic, who at 17-6 are among the best teams in the NBA. The Knicks have taken down some of the NBA's elite -- including road wins against the Hawks and Hornets -- and pasted the Suns at home. With five consecutive games against the Bulls, Bobcats and Clippers before a Christmas Day showdown with the Heat, expect the Knicks to continue their best stretch in recent memory.

NEW JERSEY NETS: Two wins are better than none, I guess. The Nets edged the Bulls, 103-101, for their first road win of the season on Tuesday. But even in victory, the Nets showcased their most recent fatal flaw: defense. In eight of its last nine games, New Jersey has allowed at least 100 points, not a good stat for a team that averages a league-worst 89.3 points per game. The coup de grace came Sunday, when the Nets allowed a season-worst 130 points to the Hawks in yet another blowout loss. A team as young as the Nets is expected to struggle on defense, where success stems from a mixture of effort and basketball acumen. But after playing stingy D early in the season for recently fired coach Lawrence Frank, the Nets are headed in the wrong direction.