Ryan says Jets should be favorites to win it all

Rex Ryan is feeling Super these days.

The New York Jets' confident coach thinks his team should not only be favored to beat the Cincinnati Bengals, but to win the Super Bowl.

During his daily news conference Wednesday, Ryan was asked what his reaction was to being the team with the longest odds - currently at 50-1 - to win the championship.

``I wasn't aware of that,'' he said, ``but to me, we should be favorites, so that's fine.''

Ryan was then asked to clarify if he meant the Jets should be favored to beat the Bengals on Saturday in Cincinnati.

``I mean in the whole tournament,'' he said. ``You know the way that I feel.''

That's right. The guy who mistakenly thought the Jets were eliminated from the playoff picture after losing to Atlanta three weeks ago believes New York can win it all.

``I think we have the best defense, I know we do,'' Ryan said. ``I know we have the best rushing attack. Those are two huge factors in our favor. With a couple of exceptions on our staff, myself probably, I think we have a great coaching staff.''

When told of Ryan's statement, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine smiled.

``Shocks me,'' said Pettine, whom Ryan brought with him from Baltimore. ``Like I've said before, that's Rex being Rex.''

The Jets opened as a 1-point underdog against the Bengals, and are now a 2 1/2-point underdog despite beating Cincinnati 37-0 last Sunday to make it into the playoffs.

``I want this football team,'' Ryan said. ``I'm not going to trade our team. If I had a choice to coach any team in this tournament, I would choose this one.''

The Jets, of course, have not won the Super Bowl since Joe Namath helped deliver the franchise's only title - with Ryan's father, Buddy, the defensive line coach - in 1969.