Having won back-to-back games — and five of their last seven since Rex Ryan’s return to Ground-’n-Pound football — Plaxico Burress said he’s sure the Jets are making the postseason, and added playoff teams are usually rounding into form in December like the team is now.
“No doubt about it,’’ Burress said when asked if he thought the Jets were a playoff team. “The best teams in this league are playing their best in December. … If we do the things we’re supposed to do and execute, we’re pretty tough to beat.’’
And that could hinge on the return of their running game. Running back Shonn Greene has averaged 72.8 yards per game since the Oct. 9 loss to New England — sixth-best in the AFC — and capped that with a three-touchdown effort last week.
“Yeah, that was impressive. We’ll sign up for that each week. That’d be great. We know we had to run the football better, and we’re doing that. It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but we know we’ve got to just hang in there.
“Sometimes rushing attempts are more important than rushing average. Just keep running the ball and good things will happen.’’
Burress added: “You want to establish a running game somewhere along the line if you want to be a championship-caliber team. Getting into December when the weather is bad, you want to be able to run the ball consistently. We’re working at it to get Shonn and [LaDainian Tomlinson] and Joe [McKnight] some touches, because they have talent.’’
* Starting defensive lineman Mike DeVito (knee) is listed as doubtful, but it doesn’t even seem he has that 25 percent chance to play.
“He comes to practice every day, so you don’t want to just rule him out,’’ said Ryan. “But then he says, ‘Please give me another day, please give me another day.’ OK, [you list him as] doubtful. I don’t see it.’’
McKnight (hyperextended right elbow) is questionable and a game-time decision, with Bilal Powell active.
“[McKnight’s] right arm is still twice the size of his left arm,’’ Ryan quipped, before admitting the swelling had gone down.
Marcus Dixon (hip) is also questionable, and was limited in practice yesterday.
* OL Vlad Ducasse (knee), Greene (ribs), LB David Harris (ankle), WR Jeremy Kerley (knee), DB Ellis Lankster (low back), C Nick Mangold (ankle), OLB Calvin Pace (groin), LS Tanner Purdum (low back), G Matt Slauson (knee), S Eric Smith (knee), Tomlinson (knee) and DT Muhammad Wilkerson (shoulder) are probable.