This story has been updated from a previous version.
The Jets' playoff hopes took another blow with a 19-3 "Thursday Night Football" loss to the Jaguars.
A season that began with real promise for the Jets, who were three games over .500 just one month ago, has reached a critical point after four consecutive losses.
The streak began with competitive losses to the Bills and Vikings but continued with a blown fourth-quarter lead against the Lions in Week 15. It hit a new low with an ugly loss to Jacksonville that included Robert Saleh benching quarterback Zach Wilson for the second time this season.
Saleh might not know who will be under center for the Jets against the Seahawks in Week 17, but he knows his team needs a win.
MORE: Jacksonville takes step toward playoffs, New York benches Zach Wilson again
Here's how the Jets can still snap the NFL's longest playoff drought and sneak into the field.
Where do the Jets stand in the AFC playoff picture?
The Jets entered Week 16 as the AFC's No. 9 seed, one game behind the Chargers and Dolphins in the wild-card race. New York trailed the Patriots by a head-to-head tiebreaker.
With the loss Thursday, the Jets dropped to No. 10 in the AFC behind the Jaguars, though they moved back up to No. 9 courtesy of the Titans' surprising loss to the 2-10-1 Texans on Saturday and the Jets' tiebreaker over common opponents. New York still can be passed by the Raiders on Saturday; Las Vegas would have a better conference record with a win over the Steelers.
The Browns and Steelers can move to 7-8 on Saturday, but a worse record against AFC opponents would keep both below the Jets. New York also has wins over both teams, though that would not factor into a tie with three or more teams.
Despite the setback, there is still a path for the Jets.
MORE: What if the Jets had drafted Trevor Lawrence?
What playoff tiebreakers are in the Jets' favor?
The one silver lining of the Jets' loss to the Lions was that it didn't affect their record against AFC opponents. New York can't say the same after the loss to the Jaguars.
Regardless of what else happens in Week 16, the Jets trail the Chargers, Dolphins, Patriots and Jaguars in conference record. That complicates their path to the playoffs, because they're poised to lose most tiebreakers involving three or more teams.
The Patriots own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Jets, so any tie between just those two teams would go to New England.
The Jets do control their fate against the Dolphins, who hold the AFC's No. 7 seed. They can seal the head-to-head tiebreaker over Miami with a win in South Florida Week 18.
The Jets also hold a tiebreaker over Tennessee by way of common opponent.
What games are left on the Jets' schedule?
The Jets face the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 17 and the Dolphins in Miami in Week 18.
Seattle is also fighting for a playoff berth, but its hopes are fading just as quickly as the Jets'. There is a possibility that a loss to the Seahawks would eliminate the Jets, but we will have to find out the rest of Week 16's results to know the exact scenario.
MORE: How fading Seahawks can still earn NFC wild-card berth in NFL playoff picture
The Dolphins game in Week 18 could be a play-in game for a playoff spot, but that scenario became less likely with the Jets' loss to the Jaguars.
How good are the Jets' wild-card chances?
To put it plainly, the Jets are going to need two wins and some serious help.
The Jets can still overtake the Dolphins even if they go into Week 18 trailing Miami by a game, but here's where the situation gets complicated: The Dolphins will now need to lose one of their next two games to make that scenario possible, and one of their games is against New England.
MORE: How Miami can earn AFC wild card — or still win AFC East — in NFL playoff picture
A Patriots win over the Dolphins would keep the Jets behind New England in the playoff race heading into Week 18, so the Jets would still enter the final week of the season needing a win and some help.
The path becomes easier if the Dolphins lose to the Packers on Christmas. If Miami loses to the Packers but picks up a win over the Patriots, the Jets could enter Week 18 in a win-and-in scenario.
