Rex and The Sanchise are headed to the playoffs, lucky breaks and all.

Same Old J-E-T-S? Nope, not this time.

Rex Ryan's top-ranked defense shut down Cincinnati and rookie Mark Sanchez efficiently led a clock-eating offense as the New York Jets clinched their first playoff berth in three seasons with a 37-0 victory Sunday night at the frigid Meadowlands.

"It's a special feeling," Sanchez said. "A few weeks ago, people had us counted out."

Needing a win to keep their season going, and playing in front of frosted fans braving Arctic conditions, the Jets (9-7) set up a rematch against the AFC North champion Bengals (10-6) in the first round Saturday at Cincinnati.

"This wasn't our goal to make the playoffs. Our goals are much higher," said Ryan, heading to the postseason in his first year as a head coach. "We were 4-6 and we had a mission with the team. It went from impossible to improbable, back to impossible and then to inevitable."

Ryan led his players back onto the field after a few minutes in the locker room, celebrating with a victory lap and high-fiving the few thousand remaining fans.

"It was great," cornerback Darrelle Revis said. "We had to give back to the fans. They stuck with us."

The win _ marked by Ryan getting a Gatorade shower on the sideline _ was likely the last game at Giants Stadium and capped a series of favorable twists and turns for the Jets.

New York appeared to be on the outside of the playoff hunt two weeks ago when it lost to Atlanta, and Ryan even mistakenly said his team's playoff chances were over.

Instead, the Jets defeated previously undefeated Indianapolis last Sunday when Peyton Manning and other Colts stars went to the bench in the second half. Several other teams in playoff contention lost, setting up the Jets' win-and-in game against the Bengals.

"I don't believe we backed into anything," Ryan said, "so we're going to try to prove it."

Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco said his team would be ready.

"We'll be fine," he said. "We'll study a lot of things we can fix, especially offensively. Next week will be a lot more serious."

Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards boldly told the fans earlier in the week that New York wouldn't lose, and his teammates backed him up big-time.

"That's a great team we have to play again," Sanchez said, "so, we have to be ready for a dogfight at their place."

It was the Jets' first shutout at home since beating Pittsburgh 6-0 on Dec. 14, 2003. Green and white confetti filled the sky after the game as fans waved white rally towels with the words "Win And We're In" in green letters.