EAST RUTHERFORD -- Jets running back Chris Ivory pondered the question about his team's quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and top wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, moving closer to making their playoff debuts.

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The Jets on Sunday had just defeated the Titans 30-8, improving the Jets to 8-5 and keeping them in the thick of the AFC's wild card race with three regular season games remaining.

"So they haven't been to the playoffs before?" Ivory said, sounding surprised.

Yes, that is true. Over 10-plus NFL seasons, Fitzpatrick has played in 110 regular season games. In nine-plus years, Marshall has played in 149 games. And yet neither player has advanced to the postseason.

"Oh, OK," Ivory said. "I didn't know that."

If the Jets finish strong, this could finally be the year for Fitzpatrick and Marshall. Fitzpatrick is on his sixth team, Marshall on his fourth.

"They know what they want to get, and as a team, we know what we want to get," Ivory said. "I think they know the importance of these next couple games, as far as going to the playoffs."

The Jets have won three straight games, for the first time since 2011.

"It took us long enough," said defensive end Sheldon Richardson.

They are 2-0 in December -- a critical month in the NFL. And that's largely because of Fitzpatrick and Marshall.

Fitzpatrick has nine touchdowns and zero interceptions over the past three games, boosting his season totals to a career-best 25 touchdowns, compared to 11 picks.

Marshall is up to 1,187 yards and 11 touchdowns, one shy of tying his career high. He is averaging 91.3 yards per game, the second-best clip of his career. During this three-game winning streak, Marshall has 125, 131, and 131 yards, along with four total touchdowns.

"This is why we play the game, for the games we're playing right now," Fitzpatrick said. "That's what all the work is for. Some guys don't understand it, just because in college, big bowl games, and they won every game. But we've got a great opportunity in front of us. There are some older guys that really understand how unique and what a great opportunity it is."

And how rare these opportunities can be, over the course of a career.

"We know what's at stake," Richardson said.

Veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who reached the AFC Championship Game with the Jets in 2010, senses playoff urgency from everybody in the locker room. The Jets haven't reached the playoffs since that conference title game.

"You're looking at a team that hasn't been to the playoffs in four years, and we're just trying to put our foot into the door and continue to play," he said. "I think we're starting to click."

Cromartie said last week's 23-20 comeback overtime victory against the Giants "was a turning point, of building a confidence in this team that we can go out and go finish games."

Both the Jets' offense and defense got off to a strong start Sunday, as the Jets led 27-0 at halftime, while out-gaining the Titans 324 yards to 72.

"We're peaking," strong safety Calvin Pryor said of the Jets' defense. "We're here for a run. We're trying to win out and earn a playoff spot."

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.