Probably trying to divert attention away from his team's awful loss in Philadelphia, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan reached back for some vintage bluster Monday, firing the first shots in this week's Battle of New York.

"Quite honestly, I never came here to be little brother to anybody," said Ryan, using a variation of his famous line from 2009 about refusing to kiss Bill Belichick's Super Bowl rings.

Ryan said it's "ridiculous" for anyone to suggest the New York Giants have been better than the Jets since his arrival in '09, but he acknowledged the winner of Saturday's game at MetLife Stadium will own the city -- and there's no doubt in his mind it'll be the Jets.

"I recognize they're an excellent football team," he said, "but I think we're better."

The Jets (8-6) didn't resemble anything close to a good football team in their 45-19 loss to the Eagles, but they almost certainly will claim the final wild-card spot in the AFC if they finish with two wins. The Giants (7-7), coming off an ugly loss to the Washington Redskins, are desperate, too, but they win the NFC East with two wins.

It sets the stage for the most meaningful regular-season game in the history of the Jets-Giants rivalry, which began in 1970. The teams have met 11 times, with the Giants having won the last four to take a 7-4 advantage.