The Mets always had us believe there was more time. Another game, another inning, another out. At a cost of $341 million, their roster was too expensive to fail. Ultimately, Carlos Mendoza & Co. would figure things out, just as they did for last season’s magical ride, and if it took until Game 162, well, the more amazing the story, right?

Here’s the part the Mets somehow overlooked. They still had to win.

And by late Sunday afternoon, needing just one more victory to put this slow-motion car crash in the rearview mirror and start fresh in the playoffs — incredibly, a ticket that only required a measly 84th win — the Mets had to finally admit they weren’t capable of finishing the task .

Of course it was the Marlins who delivered the fatal blow, because what good is a franchise-shaking

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