12/01 — I know everyone is disappointed in the performance Sunday against the Broncos. I am. The weather was bad, the officiating was bad, the Jets were bad.

But it's just one game in a long season of 16 games. The Jets still are 8-4, still in first place in the AFC East and control their own destiny.

If I wanted to beat the Jets up after their loss to Denver, where would I start? But I won't. They have played amazing football for the last five weeks. They gave all of us a reason to believe and to be proud to be a Jets fan.

I've talked about it and heard about it everywhere I went for the last five weeks. Jets jerseys were everywhere, being worn by both young and old. Closet Jets fans were back on the streets with stories like they were actually playing the games themselves.

Eddie the plumber said to me this week, "Dude, the Jets are for real." Fred from Kings Park Meat Market, a long-time Jets fan, was smiling ear to ear about the Jets when I saw him on Friday, even with Vin the Giants fan sitting in the corner wearing last year's Super Bowl T-shirt and hat, laughing out loud. Then there was Mike, who said, "I can finally wear my Jets sweatshirt again." Mike from the fish market, a true Jets fan, said it best, plain and simple — "Go Jets."

And of course the best was Mr. Lips, an older gentleman and a true soccer fan who knows "NOTHING" about football, and I really mean "NOTHING." But he goes out and buys a Jets folding chair for the soccer field. Mr. Lips, God bless him, just wanted to be part of this Jets season.

Get the picture? We were all on the Jets bandwagon, and now is not the time to jump off of it because of one bad game. They're still in first place.

I've said since the beginning of the season the magical number was 10 wins, now maybe 11, to make it to the playoffs. Well, the Jets have eight wins after three quarters of the 16-week season. With four games left, they have to win two to get to 10 or three to be safe. After they stubbed their toe against Oakland, they won five in a row. What makes you believe they can't do it again? They can if they play from the shoulders up, play smart, play fast, and play physical.

Now it's time to see the finish line, four games left. The Patriots are looking over your shoulder, the Dolphins are looking over your shoulder. Don't forget that if they're looking over your shoulder they're behind you. You can keep it that way by just winning. Yesterday is gone, there's nothing you can do to get back your performance against Denver. Move on to San Fran. Forget about it. You've worked too hard to get where you are. Don't let it slip away. WIN!!!!!!!