Jets Playoffs Chances: Are New York out of the playoffs race after loss vs. Jaguars in Week 16? AFC East qualifying explained 

The New York Jets lost yet again, this time to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football. It was their fourth straight loss and they are now bottom of the AFC East with a 7-8 record. A season that started with so much promise has fizzled out quite spectacularly.

They have utilized four starting quarterbacks this season and it is mainly because of their defense that they are still in with a shout at getting to the playoffs. As unbelievable as it sounds, they are still in with a chance of making the postseason even though the odds just got longer.

They currently have a 7-8 record. They cannot catch the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East since they have a 11-3 record and are four games ahead of the Jets with just two left to play. So, their only path is through the Wild Card spots.

They have the Miami Dolphins at 8-6 and the New England Patriots at 7-7. By losing both their games to the Patriots, they do not have a tiebreaker against them and are therefore two games down on both teams. The loss ties the Jets with the Jaguars at 7-8 and worse, it gives them a tiebreaker in the playoff race.

New York are now 2-3 in the division and 5-6 in the conference after this game. This puts them behind the Jaguars, Patriots, Dolphins and Chargers. The 9-5 Baltimore Ravens look too far ahead as well.

So, even though there is a path, it looks pretty grim.

New York Jets' schedule after Week 16

The New York Jets will need to win their next two games to have any realistic chance at making the playoffs. They will need the Patriots to win no more than one of their remaining three games. They would also need the Dolphins to lose all their remaining games, or at least two.

Because after playing against the Seattle Seahawks next week, Robert Saleh's team ends their season against the Miami Dolphins. They will need to win that game and hope that the Dolphins lose a game in the interim. This is in addition to all the other teams we have highlighted that are ahead of them, who would also need to lose more matches so that the Jets can overhaul them.

The hope is still there, but there is not much of a case for optimism given their form right now.