Power rankings: Jets lose three in a row, fall even further

After losing three games in a row, the New York Jets fell to an average #16 in the latest NFL power rankings. It's their lowest position since Week 5. Just like a week ago, both PFT and the Sporting News gave Robert Saleh's team its lowest evaluation, #18. Yahoo Sports, who placed the Jets at #10 a week ago, dropped them 5 spots to #15. The Jets are a 2.5-point favorite in tonight's contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8). A loss tonight will pretty much knock the Jets out of the playoff contention and most likely out of the top 20 in the power rankings.

Here's what different power rankings websites had to say about the Jets:

ESPN: The undrafted rookie from NC State had a poor game Sunday, but he has emerged as their lead back over the past few weeks. He got into the lineup because of injuries to Breece Hall and Michael Carter and has rushed for 253 yards, 4.3 per carry, and one touchdown. Knight is faster than his 40 time (4.58), showing the ability to accelerate upfield in the Jets' outside-zone scheme. The Jets should be all set at running back next season with Hall, Knight and Carter.

The Sporting News: The Jets knew their offense was headed for regression again with Zach Wilson needing to start for an injured Mike White. But they had to be disappointed that their reliable defense let them down in key moments for Robert Saleh.

CBS Sports: The Jets have lost three straight to fall to 7-7 and put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. They have a quick turnaround this week with a Thursday game against the Jaguars to try and change things.

ProFootballTalk: I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus. Or maybe it was Zach Wilson.

Yahoo Sports: It looks like Zach Wilson will get another start, and he did play pretty well Sunday. He made some mistakes, including an awful interception down the near sideline, but overall it was a step forward. But it came in a loss, the Jets' fourth loss in five games. They're still in the playoff race but need to start winning games to stay alive.

NFL.com: The Jets continue to play competitive football every week ... but the wins have stopped coming. The latest setback was the hardest to swallow, a 20-17 loss to the Lions that badly damaged New York's chances of ending the NFL's longest playoff drought. The defense's failure to get one final stop was a stunner, but the story around this team remains the quarterback position. Zach Wilson threw two touchdown passes in an erratic start in place of injured QB1 Mike White. On Monday, Robert Saleh chose not to commit to the former No. 2 overall pick for Thursday's pivotal prime-time game against the Jaguars. From here, the reasoning appears obvious: Saleh (like the rest of the Jets' locker room) presumably wants White to lead the offense in a must-win scenario. The short week might not allow it.

USA Today: If injured Mike White was playing himself into the QB1 role in recent weeks, his absence — and what the NYJ offense devolves into without him — might only be securing his future with this organization.