by MARK CANNIZZARO , The New York Post

But a loss to the 4-4 Jaguars pretty much leaves the 4-4 Jets with the nearly impossible task of having to run the table in their final seven games to assure a postseason berth.

This is why coach Rex Ryan stood before his players in yesterday's morning meeting and told them in no uncertain terms that this was a "must win" game.

Asked yesterday if this is the equivalent of a "playoff" game, Ryan didn't shy away from that assessment.

"There's no getting around this, so you might as well admit it - that it is that kind of game," Ryan said. "We need to make sure we come out on the winning side."

Not only do the Jets need to start winning again or consider the rest of their season garbage time, they need to beat Jacksonville to assure themselves of an edge in a possible wild-card tiebreaker.

The Jets , who come out of their bye week having lost four of their last five games, already are behind every other second-place team in the AFC in the wild-card chase. A loss to Jacksonville would leave them essentially two games behind the Jaguars.

"This is playoff Football," right tackle Damien Woody said. "If you want to get in that tournament, you've got to win these games."

"If we lose, it'll put us in a hole," cornerback Darrelle Revis said. "That's what Coach [Ryan] said this morning in the team meeting. This is a must win for us and we've got to come out ready to go. Everybody knows what's at stake."

Two consecutive home losses in games the Jets believe they should never have lost (Buffalo and Miami) also are a burr in their saddle.

"This is a must win for us," safety Kerry Rhodes said. "It's a home game and we haven't been great at home like we thought we should be. We've got a team coming here trying to fight for a spot just like we are. We definitely need it."

The players in the Jets locker room who were here last season when they allowed an 8-3 start to leak away to 9-7 and no playoff berth already are feeling a sense of urgency not to let that happen again.

"We're hungry," Woody said. "I know I am. There's nothing worse than watching teams you know you're better than playing in the playoffs when you're not there. That's the worst feeling ever. Last year was a prime example. That right there should be motivation to the guys that were here last year."

Calvin Pace agreed.

"We've just got to handle our business," the linebacker said. "Last year showed us what happens when you don't handle your business and put it in someone else's hands. It's tough.

"This is a must win," Pace added. "We need this win, bottom line. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. We need to find a way to get a win."

Because of the predicament the Jets have put themselves in, Woody said each game is vital.

"Every game from here on out is a must win," Woody said. "Jacksonville is in the same position as us. We can't afford to be half-stepping. We've got to handle our business. I'm sure Jack Del Rio is preaching the same thing to their team.

"It's going to be two very similar teams going against each other. It's all about who wants it more."

Ryan said "everything is out there" for the Jets to accomplish.

"It's all attainable," he said.

That begins with Sunday's unofficial playoff game at home.

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