Since they're playing in the last of this week's slate of NFL games—Monday night in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans—the Jets won't have to do any scoreboard-watching while they play in prime time. They'll know exactly where they are in the AFC playoff standings. After Thursday night, their mission has become clearer, and more difficult.

With their victory over the Eagles, the Bengals improved to 8-6, moving themselves 1½ games ahead of the Jets, who are 6-7 and clinging to the hope that they can win their final three regular-season games and earn themselves a berth in the playoffs.

The Bengals are one of three teams who are ahead of the Jets in the race for the AFC's two wild-card spots. The Indianapolis Colts (9-4) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) are the others. Assuming the Jets do beat the Titans, the Chargers and the Bills, here's what would need to happen for them to overtake each team:

The Colts: Because they beat Indianapolis earlier this season, the Jets hold the tie-breaker advantage between the two teams. If the Colts lose out, the Jets would finish ahead of them. But Indy has rookie sensation Andrew Luck at quarterback and two-win Kansas City on its schedule.

T he Bengals: The Jets need Cincinnati to lose at least one of its final two games, both of which are AFC contests. If both teams finish 9-7, the Jets again would hold the tie-breaker because they'd finish 7-5 within the conference. The Bengals would be just 6-6.

The Steelers: Pittsburgh beat the Jets in Week 2, which means the Steelers have to finish 8-8 or worse to end up behind New York in the standings. They could help the Jets' cause by beating the Bengals on Dec. 23, but Pittsburgh would then have to lose its remaining two games.

— Mike Sielski