Very recently, Robert Saleh and the New York Jets, sans the injured Aaron Rodgers and with the certifiably below-average Zach Wilson at quarterback, had a 4-3 record and somehow had legitimate hopes of making the playoffs.

It was a surprising twinge of hope for a star-crossed franchise that hasn’t made the postseason since 2010 and has mostly been something of a laughingstock ever since winning its lone Super Bowl during the 1968 season.

But the Jets have lost their last two games, and with a 4-5 record, their chances of making the playoffs have plunged.

But head coach Robert Saleh made it clear during an appearance on “The Michael Kay Show” that his team still has a shot because “there’s a lot of football left.”

NFL News & Rumors: New York Jets Updates

New York’s loss this past week was particularly jarring, as it came against a struggling Las Vegas Raiders team after it had taken a 9-3 lead early in the second quarter. It had held the Raiders, who have a rookie starting at quarterback in Aidan O’Connell, to just one touchdown, only to have Wilson come up dry on its last two offensive series of the fourth quarter.

During one of those series, Wilson threw an interception with just over a minute remaining with his team down 16-12, which was the final score.

On a positive note, the Jets, at times this season, have played excellent defense, and they do have a couple of bona fide weapons on offense. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson is a rising star, as is Breece Hall, their second-year running back.

But they also have some challenging games coming up, such as this Sunday’s contest at the Buffalo Bills and the following week’s Black Friday game against the Miami Dolphins. New York will face the Dolphins a second time, this time in Miami, on Dec. 17.

Perhaps snagging a playoff berth is within the realm of possibility, as Saleh suggested. But it isn’t exactly likely.

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