Oakland at N.Y. Jets NFL.com wire reports EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Dec. 27, 2006) -- The New York Jets simply have to beat the lowly Oakland Raiders on Dec. 31 to earn a playoff berth and complete an impressive turnaround from a year ago. The Jets (9-6), who finished 4-12 last season under Herm Edwards, fell to 2-3 after a 41-0 loss to Jacksonville on Oct. 8. But first-year coach Eric Mangini has gotten his team on track, and after its 13-10 victory at Miami on Christmas Day, New York is one victory away from its fourth postseason berth in the past six years. "We've talked for months and months about controlling things," Mangini said. "And we're firm believers that we control the things that happen to us based on the way that we have prepared, based on the way that we work and based on us carrying that over into Sunday." The Jets are 5-2 since their bye week, allowing an average of 14.1 points in those games, the third-fewest points in the league in that span. While New York is only one victory away from the playoffs, Mangini does not want his team overlooking the hapless Raiders (2-13), who have lost eight straight and are averaging a league-low 11.0 points. "This is definitely an exciting time of year for us, but our approach will be consistent just like it was with Miami," Mangini said. "We need to take care of what's in front of us, and what's in front of us is the Oakland Raiders and that's all our focus has to be on. Anything else after that point we'll address when, and if, it happens." Although Mangini would rather see his team advance to the playoffs with a victory, the Jets can still make the postseason if they lose to the Raiders, but would need some help. They would get in if Cincinnati and Jacksonville lose or tie; if Cincinnati loses or ties and Tennessee wins; or if Denver and Jacksonville lose. New York is coming off victories at Minnesota and at Miami, but has not won three in a row since Nov. 21-Dec. 5, 2004. The Jets limited the Dolphins to a season-low 253 yards, while holding their fourth opponent in their past six games to a single touchdown. The Jets offense struggled to get in sync during a heavy rain during the game, and won on a 30-yard field goal by Mike Nugent with 10 seconds left. Jets quarterback Chad Pennington has led an efficient attack recently. Nugent had four field goals last season in a 26-10 victory against Oakland, and has connected on his past 15 attempts. Chad Pennington was 14-for-29 for 237 yards and a touchdown against Miami, and has passed for 601 yards, five TDs and one interception in three career games against the Raiders. New York has won four of its past five games, and Pennington has thrown for 1,307 yards while completing 67.5 percent of his passes in those games. Oakland has the No. 1 passing defense in the league, though, allowing an average of only 150.9 yards. The Raiders are tied for the seventh-most interceptions with 18, and Pennington is tied for the sixth-most picks with 16. The Jets have won their past two against Oakland, but the Raiders lead the all-time series 19-13-2. Oakland lost to Kansas City 20-9 on Dec. 23 and matched the franchise record for losses in a season, set when it went 1-13 in 1962 -- the season before Al Davis arrived to coach and eventually own the team. The Raiders were held without an offensive touchdown for the seventh time, and are on pace to finish with the fifth-lowest point total in NFL history since the league extended the schedule to 16 games in 1978. "I've never been involved in a season like this," Raiders safety Stuart Schweigert said. "The way we're playing and the record we have, it's unbelievable." The Raiders turned the ball over five times against the Chiefs, and have committed at least five turnovers in three of their past four games. "There's frustration, but we know those guys want to win as much as we do. They're working hard. They're having meetings. They're not going out there to fumble the ball," Schweigert said of the struggling offense. The Raiders gained a season-low 179 yards and had a season-high four turnovers in their loss to the Jets last year. Quarterback Andrew Walter had two fumbles and was intercepted twice against Kansas City, and has 19 turnovers in 12 games this season. Oakland is winless on the road, and is trying to avoid going 0-8 on the road for the first time since 2003. Jets Notes New York Jets Victory clinches postseason berth ? Team has won 7 of past 10. Victory earns Jets 6-victory improvement vs. 2005 ? In 2 career starts vs. Oak, QB CHAD PENNINGTON has completed 40 of 61 (65.6 pct.) for 534 yds w/ 4 TDs vs. 1 INT for 108.2 passer rating. Pennington (3,195) needs 205 yds to mark 7th time Jets passer has reached 3,400 in season ? Team has won 4 of 5 (80.0 pct.) when RB KEVAN BARLOW rushes for TD. Rookie RB LEON WASHINGTON has 597 rush yds & needs 27 more to surpass FREEMAN MC NEIL (623, 1981) for 4th most by Jets rookie. In past 3 games played RB CEDRIC HOUSTON has 3 rushing TDs & 208 rush yds on 61 carries ? WR LAVERANUES COLES (1,074) & WR JERRICHO COTCHERY (908) aim to become 1st NYJ duo to reach 1,000 rec. yds each since 1998 when team advanced to AFC Championship Game (WAYNE CHREBET, 1,083; KEYSHAWN JOHNSON, 1,131) ? LB VICTOR HOBSON has 4.0 sacks in past 3 games. DE BRYAN THOMAS has at least 1.0 sack in 6 of past 8 games ? Club No. 3 in NFL in avg. drive start after kickoff (31.3). Oakland Raiders Club has denied opponents more than 21 points in 9 of past 11 games ? Club has won 2 of past 5 starts by QB ANDREW WALTER. In 27 career December starts, QB AARON BROOKS has passed for 41 TDs vs. 29 INTs ? RB JUSTIN FARGAS rushed for career-best 90 yds last week on 19 carries (4.7-yd avg.) ? WR RONALD CURRY has 28 receptions in past 3 games ? most in any 3-game stretch in career. Posted career-high 11 receptions vs. KC last wk & has at least 87 rec. yds in each of past 3. Last Raider player to post 11+ catches in game was TIM BROWN (13) on 10/27/02 ? Defense is 6th in NFL in redzone, allowing 25 TDs on 57 trips (43.9 pct.) ? CB NNAMDI ASOMUGHA (8) tied for 2nd in NFL in INTs. Last Raider to post 9+ in season was LESTER HAYES (13) in 1980. DT WARREN SAPP has 9.0 sacks on season, his most since 2000 w/ TB (16.5). Needs 1.0 sack to reach 10+ for 4th time in 12-year career ? In past 9 games, KR-PR-CB CHRIS CARR has 26.9 KR avg. K SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI has 155 career FGs & needs 1 more to tie HOFer GEORGE BLANDA (156) for most in franchise history.
