The vaudeville act the Jets have become has provided plenty of hyperbole in a week when the Giants had a bye, the NBA is still squabbling over a new collective bargaining agreement and the World Series involves teams not named the Yankees or Mets.
Rex Ryan's coast-to-coast expansion of his Super Bowl forecasting was yet another example of the Jets coach creating headlines that have little to do with what might actually take place on the field. Push through all the blather -- including Darrelle Revis hanging up on WFAN's Mike Francesa during a phone interview yesterday -- and the only relevant issue in tomorrow's game is the Jets face another must-win if they plan to maintain any credible hope of making the playoffs.
LINE 'EM UP: Rex Ryan and the Jets have done plenty of talking this season, but it's high time to turn those words into action, says The Post's George Willis.
Amid all the talk about Ryan and Norv Turner, and LaDainian Tomlinson playing his former team, the urgency surrounding tomorrow's game against the Chargers hasn't seemed as intense as it did last week when the Jets needed to end a three-game losing streak against the winless Dolphins.
A 24-6 triumph over the feeble Fish provided a moment to exhale, but not to the point where the Jets can be distracted by all that has gone on this week. In many ways, tomorrow's game is a true test of the team's embattled leadership both on the coaching staff and inside the locker room. A poor showing against the Chargers would speak volumes about the true character of this team.
Not surprisingly, after their final full practice yesterday, the Jets insisted they're focused and ready.
"This is one of those must-win situations," offensive tackle Wayne Hunter said. "With the bye and coming off that three-game losing streak, everyone feels that way."
Running back Joe McKnight added: "We've got to give it our all. We have to win this one. We can't go into a bye with a loss."
A loss would be devastating, almost as devastating as a loss to the Dolphins would have been. Getting beat by the Chargers (4-1) would drop the Jets to 3-4, meaning they would have to win seven of their last nine games to sniff a wild-card. There would little margin for error.
Conversely, a win not only builds momentum and confidence, it sets them up for the kind of finish that could lead to success in the postseason.
After the bye the Jets face difficult tests at Buffalo and home against the Patriots. But the remainder of the schedule isn't intimidating with road games at Denver, Washington, Philadelphia and Miami and home affairs against Buffalo, Kansas City and the Giants.
So far, the Jets haven't looked like a team that can get through that with a 10-6 record. But they could change that perception with a good performance against the AFC West-leading Chargers.
"This is huge going into the bye," center Nick Mangold said. "It would be good momentum and good confidence for us. It would be a big win for us."
The sense of urgency wasn't exactly evident during the early part of practice yesterday, when Ryan was keeping it loose by running out on a pass pattern. He was proud of himself for making an over-the-shoulder catch. You wouldn't know the Jets season was on the brink. But it is even though it's only October. That's the predicament they've put themselves in.
Their objectives tomorrow have been defined: to jumpstart a sputtering rushing attack, improve their run defense on the edges and gets some consistency early on offense. That will take focus and leadership -- both of which have been questioned by critics outside the locker room, including ex-teammates.
That's why tomorrow isn't about how many rings Ryan may or may not have won with the Chargers or whether Tomlinson gets some sort of revenge against his former team. It's about whether the Jets can push through the noise and prove they have the focus, leadership and the talent to be beat a good team. That's all that really matters.
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