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Rex Ryan Says 'So-Called Experts' Knew Nothing About Jets

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The New York Jets were expected to stink this season. Plain and simple.

Most preseason and Week 1 power rankings had Rex Ryan's team toward the bottom of the barrel. ESPN put them dead last.

Then a funny thing happened. The Jets started winning. Sure, they've lost some ugly games, but nobody could have anticipated a 5-4 record and victories over Atlanta, New England and New Orleans heading into Week 11.

Except the Jets themselves.

"The so-called experts knew nothing about our team. Nothing," Ryan told Peter King of Sports Illustrated's The MMQB.

One of the biggest contributors has been defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who Ryan said "should be in the conversation for defensive player of the year." Wilkerson would probably agree. He acknowledged on WFAN radio Tuesday that he feels he's among the best in the game.

The Jets, with a rookie quarterback in Geno Smith, now control their own destiny in the AFC playoff hunt. There's plenty of football to play, though many believe Ryan has shown enough to deserve a contract extension.

"I don't worry about that," Ryan told King. "Honest to God, I don't. There's not one day that it enters my mind. I mean: I haven't spent one minute thinking about it. Things will work out. When you work hard and take care of your job, things usually do work out."

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