Chance at playoff spot

that, because the margin for error was slim then, and it’s even less now. We really can’t afford any mistakes.”

The Jets have battled inconsistency all season, as exemplified by their past two games. They thrashed the Bills in a Thursday night game at home Nov. 2, showcasing a relentless pass rush and a disciplined run defense while the offense gashed the Bills for 194 rushing yards. Ten days later, they flopped in Tampa with arguably their worst showing of the season.

It’s understandable for a young team to go through growing pains. But few — if any — players in the Jets locker room are willing to use that as an excuse for the up-anddown performances.

“It’s definitely frustrating, because we put a lot of work in, week in, week out, and we see what we can be if we just find a way to get it all to click together,” Jenkins said. “It sucks when we watch past performances and see us do well, and then other times where we’re not doing well. Now it’s hit or miss. There’s no ‘got to find a way.’ It has to happen. That’s just the fact of the matter.”

Bowles said he’s instilled that elimination-game approach all year.

“It didn’t start now. We were like that Week 1,” Bowles said. “We’re like that every week. We’re trying to win every ballgame, and Carolina’s up next. That’s the ballgame we’re trying to win.”

In his first season with the Jets in 2015, Bowles led Gang Green to 10 wins and still missed the playoffs. So he’s well aware of the current stakes: Even if the Jets win out, there’s no guarantee they’ll make the postseason.

But they still have a chance. And considering the Jets have lost four of their last five games, Bowles should be thankful for that.

“As a team, we’re still together. We know what’s going on right now. We know that we’re still in this thing,” Claiborne said. “We just got to take care of our business on Sunday and the weeks after that.”