Jets earn playoff bid with 37-0 rout

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Rex and The Sanchise are headed to the playoffs, lucky breaks and all.

Same Old J-E-T-S? Nope, not this time.

Rex Ryan’s top-ranked defense shut down the Cincinnati Bengals and rookie Mark Sanchez efficiently led a clock-eating offense as the Jets clinched their first playoff berth in three seasons with a 37-0 victory at the frigid Meadowlands on Sunday night.

Needing a win to keep their season going, and playing in front of their frosted fans braving Arctic conditions, the Jets (9-7) set up a rematch against the Bengals (10-6) in the first round of the playoffs next Saturday at Cincinnati.

“I don’t believe we backed into anything, so we’re going to try to prove it,” Ryan said.

It was the Jets’ first shutout at home since beating Pittsburgh 6-0 on Dec. 14, 2003. Green and white confetti filled the sky after the game as fans waved white rally towels with the words “Win And We’re In” in green letters.

The victory — marked by Ryan getting a Gatorade shower on the sideline — was likely the last game at Giants Stadium and capped a series of favorable twists and turns for the Jets.

New York appeared to be on the outside of the playoff hunt two weeks ago when it lost to Atlanta, and Ryan even mistakenly said his team’s playoff chances were over.

Instead, the Jets defeated previously undefeated Indianapolis last Sunday when Peyton Manning and other Colts stars went to the bench in the second half. Several other teams in playoff contention lost, setting up the Jets’ win-and-in game against the Bengals.

Wide receiver Braylon Edwards boldly told the fans earlier in the week that the Jets wouldn’t lose, and his teammates backed him up bigtime.

Sanchez was 8 for 16 for 63 yards with no turnovers before being replaced by Kellen Clemens late in the fourth quarter with the game in hand. Thomas Jones ran for 78 yards and two touchdowns and do-it-all wide receiver Brad Smith had 92 yards rushing, including a 32-yard TD run, as the Jets set a record for rushing yards in a season.

The Bengals opened with most of their starters — running back Cedric Benson was the only healthy starter to not play — but pulled Carson Palmer early in the third quarter. Palmer was ineffective when he was in, going 1 for 11 for no — yes, zero — yards before J.T. O’Sullivan replaced him.