IMAGINE this, Jets faithful: Defense is carrying the team, very possibly to a playoff berth.

If the Jets are going to keep this season of tight, hair-graying, angst-filled victories alive and running, their defense is going to lead the way – much the way it has all season, particularly during these last three games with Quincy Carter filling in at quarterback.

If we’d have told you a year ago that the Jets’ defense was going to be the cog to drive the Jets to the postseason you’d have scoffed.

Yet here are the Jets, ranked 21st in total defense and 28th against the run in 2003, ranked No. 6 against the run and No. 7 overall through 11 games in 2004.

Better yet, the Jets are tied for second in the NFL in fewest points allowed, which is the most important defensive statistic of all. Only the Eagles and Ravens have allowed fewer points with an average of 14.9. The Jets are tied with the 10-1 Steelers for second, allowing an average of 15.3 points per game.

Sure, Carter has been lauded for winning two of the three games he’s started, but really, the defense is what truly won those two games, holding the Browns to a mere touchdown in a 10-7 win and holding the Cardinals to only a field goal in Sunday’s 13-3 win.

Making the performance of the defense even more impressive is the fact that there has been pressure on the Jets’ defense virtually all season as the Jets have scored 20 or more points in only four of the 11 games this season, including the first two. So, in the last nine games, the Jets have eclipsed the 20-point barrier only twice.

That’s OK, though, according to the Jets’ defensive players, who are thriving on their role in this playoff push.

“Right now, we feel like we need to do this,” Jets’ veteran NT Jason Ferguson said. “We want to be in charge of the end of the game and take over. We’re starting to do that.”

Really, they’ve been doing that, shutting out opponents in the second half four times already this season.

“Every great player loves pressure,” Jets’ second-year DT Dewayne Robertson said. “You’re really not judged until there’s pressure on your shoulders. That’s what I love, pressure. Some games are going to be like this (10-7 and 13-3). Some games, the offense is going to bail us out. That’s part of the deal.”

Right now, the Jets’ offense is in arrears, though there have been some terrific performances from players such as Curtis Martin, the offensive line for the large part, and others. The scoring production hasn’t been there, though in the team’s defense, it has been playing things close to the vest with Carter behind center.

“This,” Herman Edwards said, “is how we’ve got to win right now. It’s a tribute to the players and staff for not really panicking. Guys just hung in there.”

The 8-3 Jets have been hanging in there for the last nine games after winning their first two with somewhat dominating performances.

“They’re understanding how we have to play right now,” Edwards said of his defense. “Our offense needs to get going. I’m still waiting for them to explode and have one of those weekends.”

Maybe that’ll come this weekend, particularly if Chad Pennington returns to the field, which looks very possible.

“When ‘Q’ [Carter] got hurt [Sunday in Arizona], we knew we had to step up even more,” Ferguson said. “We hadn’t had turnovers for a few weeks so we needed to get some turnovers. That was a big goal.”

The Jets, who are second in the AFC with a plus-14 turnover ratio, turned the Cardinals over four times in the second half Sunday to clinch victory.

As for how unsightly these wins have been for the Jets, the defense hardly cares.

“We never care what it looks like as long as we get a W,” Ferguson said.

BRING ON THE “D”

The Jets have been markedly more proficient in a number of statistical categories on defense in 2004. Here’s a look at how they ranked in some key categories last year and how they rank this year:

2003 2004 POINTS ALLOWED 18.7 (ranked 8th) 15.3 (ranked second)

TOTAL DEFENSE (yards allowed per game) 332.4 (ranked 21st) 296.4 (ranked 7th)

RUSHING DEFENSE (yards allowed per game) 143.4 (ranked 28th) 101.3 (ranked 6th)

TURNOVER RATIO 0 (ranked 14th) plus-14 (ranked second)

TAKEAWAYS 20 (ranked 31st) 23 (ranked fourth)