For Rex Ryan, it's win or be fired

Rex Ryan is no dummy.

He fully understands that he won't be the Jets coach for much longer if his 1-4 team can't find a way to save its season. But he remains the ultimate optimist and a believer in his struggling quarterback Geno Smith and the long-term vision of Jets general manager John Idzik.

That's why Ryan is convinced he'll find a way.

And if he doesn't -- he knows he could be shown the door.

"If we don't get this thing on the right track, I don't think for a minute I'll be here. I know I won't," the Jets coach told ESPN yesterday. "But I believe this team is going to right itself and we'll find a way. I've been around this league a long time. I know what happens if you don't win. I see that, but I'm not afraid of that. I think this team's going to win."

Four straight losses have the Jets on the doorstep of irrelevancy in the AFC -- and on the precipice of potentially finding a new head coach if things go south. Their schedule doesn't get easier with Peyton Manning and the Broncos coming to town Sunday, followed by a game against the Patriots and Tom Brady four days later.

"It doesn't get much tougher than that," Ryan said. "But we're not conceding anything."

Ryan said he understands why the Jets are viewed as dysfunctional, but he promised his team will be "more than competitive" against the Broncos and Patriots.