Todd Bowles wouldn't touch the subject. It wasn't worth his time. His entire focus is on the present, and getting his Jets team ready for their game this Sunday against the Chargers.

As for how long those Jets will be his team?

"I'm not going to talk about my job," he said this week. "That stuff takes care of itself."

With the Jets officially eliminated from the playoffs for the seventh straight year, including all three Bowles has been in charge, those outside One Jets Drive have started to wonder if the coach's seat is getting warm.

The Jets are better than many expected (5-9 with two games to play), but still not very good. Continued fourth-quarter meltdowns are the reason New York will fall short of the postseason, a problem Bowles hasn't found a way to fix. Coaching mishaps and blunders popped up time and time again, too.

Before the season, acting owner Christopher Johnson said progress, not wins and losses, would dictate whether Bowles returns. Has he shown enough?

"I (think so)," cornerback Buster Skrine said. "He should be here. I know the team believes the same thing. I can't speak for the front office, because they're in charge, but I know as a team we want Todd back."

If the Jets can beat the Chargers on Sunday, it might be enough to ensure Bowles returns.

Here's everything you need to know heading into the game.

* Predictions: NJ.com staff make picks
* Kony Ealy sits down with NJ.com | 4 Down
* Jets final injury report vs. Chargers
* Mailbag: Could Jets make run at Darnold, Rosen?

HIDDEN AWAY: Bryce Petty is the Jets starting quarterback, and it's unclear if anything -- injury aside -- will change that. In the meantime, former second-round pick Christian Hackenberg is waiting for to see the first regular season action of his career. We caught up with some of his teammates to see how he's doing in practice.

BRIGHT FUTURE: The Jets fell short of the playoffs this year for the seventh straight season. Not good. A positive? The Jets should have near $100 million in cap space when free agency begins, and a top-10 pick. Could good things be coming?

GET HIM BACK: Austin Seferian-Jenkins has been a bright spot for the Jets this year. For the first time in a long time, they have a tight end capable of making plays. This is the final year of the 25-year-old's contract, though. It's time for the Jets to bring him back.

DEFENSIVE D-END: Muhammad Wilkerson isn't expected to play these final two games. The Jets want to ensure he doesn't get hurt, which would prevent them from cutting him this offseason. It's a sad end to Wilkerson's tenure in New York. He was once viewed as a defensive cornerstone. Earlier this week, Wilkerson defended his play.

Speed reading: Here are some final links to get caught up on before the game.

* Week 16 games to watch with Jets' draft implications
* Leonard Williams has no issue with concussion protocol
* Hackenberg still working with scout team
* Jets' 10 biggest surprises of 2017
* What the Jets must accomplish this offseason

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.