Next step brings Jets to Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Curtis Martin and his teammates claim the New York Jets are determined to take the next step. To do it, the Jets must step over the Oakland Raiders once again.

Six days after the Jets marched into the playoffs with a last-minute victory over the Raiders at the Coliseum, they'll be back in the center of the Black Hole -- and carrying renewed confidence for another shot at reeling Oakland on Saturday in a wild-card game.

New York's playoff chances hung on last week's meeting with the Raiders, but John Hall's 53-yard field goal with 59 seconds left gave the Jets a 24-22 victory. The victory clinched the first playoff berth since 1998 for the Jets, who feel they've got a team that can go further.

"When you get to the playoffs, it's a whole different mindset," Martin said. "That Super Bowl trophy that sits in our locker room becomes a reality. We're one of only 12 teams left. You see that trophy 15 times a day, it's a reminder of what we're after."

After a quick trip back home to prepare, the Jets are back on the West Coast, going for a second victory in a stadium where visiting teams had met with nothing but trouble over the past 1 1/2 seasons before the Raiders' collapse.

Given the upbeat mood in New York's locker room this week, it's clear the Jets believe they can do it.

"Coaches in the NFL are on adrenaline right now," Jets coach Herman Edwards said. "A lot of candy, soda and coffee is being sold to us, because the reality is that if you lose, you don't get to play again."

While the Jets spent the week excited about the opportunity they earned, the Raiders can't help lamenting the chances they've already lost this season.

Oakland has lost three straight overall -- the team's longest losing streak since 1998 -- and three of its last four home games after a 10-game regular-season winning streak at the Coliseum.

The Raiders lost last season's AFC championship game at home to Baltimore, and they've looked nothing like their dominant selves in recent home losses. What's more, the Jets were 7-1 on the road in the regular season.

Not many two-time division champions have found themselves in such dire circumstances in the playoffs' opening round, but many players on the Raiders' veteran roster still believe the team has the potential for a revival.

"One of the hardest things to do in watching films is knowing what kind of competition the other guys are going against," Oakland lineman Barry Sims said. "When you play back-to-back, you know exactly what people are thinking and what effort was put in."