Rex Ryan and the Jets are out of the playoff hunt.
Credit: Getty Images
The Jets’ season was ended by a kicker.
Ravens kicker Justin Tucker kicked six field goals, including a game-winner from 61 yards with 38 seconds left, to lead Baltimore to an 18-16 win over the Lions. The win eliminated the Jets, at 6-8, from playoff contention.
Detroit had taken a lead with 2:21 remaining on a 14-yard touchdown catch by Joseph Fauria. But they missed the two-point conversion when Calvin Johnson couldn’t haul in a catch that would’ve made it a three-point game.
The Jets have now missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons after head coach Rex Ryan led his team to consecutive AFC Championship game appearances in his first two seasons in New York.
Ryan acknowledged Monday it was unlikely his team would make the postseason, despite holding out hope.
“Did I flash the playoff scenario up there [in the team meeting]? Absolutely. Absolutely I did,” Ryan said Monday afternoon. “And I think there’s only one playoff scenario [for us to make it in] of all the lists of a million of them. A lot of things have got to happen. Are we aware that Detroit needs to beat Baltimore for us to be alive? Yeah, we’re aware of it, there’s no doubt.”
Ironically, it’s Ryan’s former team which knocked him out of the postseason. Ryan spent 1999 to 2008 with the Ravens staff.
But Ryan said he’s not worried about his team still competing even after elimination.
“This team’s going to play hard regardless, Ryan said. “Whether there’s a playoff scenario out there or not, this team will play hard. I’m confident of that. I’m confident we’ll prepare, we’ll do everything, we’re professionals and this team is close. You never want to go out that way. You want to go out being true to yourself and everything else.”
The Dolphins (8-6) and Chargers (7-7) are now the only teams competing with Baltimore for the final wild-card spot.
Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.
