NEW YORK — Edwin Diaz, the closer for the New York Mets, was direct with his words.

He didn’t hold back on his confidence.

Even if his bold statement makes it onto the bulletin board, he stands by it.

“We are,” Diaz confidently declared after securing the final six outs on Friday, “going to win the next two games.”

“We can defeat them. We can do this.”

While this might not carry the same weight as Joe Namath’s famous Super Bowl guarantee in 1969, it certainly echoes a similar confidence in an era where athletes often play it safe with their words.

Facing elimination, the Mets, previously written off, came out swinging against the Los Angeles Dodgers, showcasing resilience in what has been a remarkable season.

“It wouldn’t be us if we didn’t win this way,” admitted Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez as he prepared for departure. “That’s how we’ve been all year. Why stop now?”

Despite being shut out in two prior matches of the series, the Mets triumphed over the Dodgers, scoring 12 runs—marking one of the highest offensive outputs in the franchise’s playoff history—before a packed crowd of 43,841, fueled by the belief they could achieve a comeback.

“We were hammering away at that barrier until it finally gave in,” said Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo, reflecting on the breakthrough.

The Mets currently trail the Dodgers 3-2 in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, with the upcoming games set to take place at Dodger Stadium starting Sunday evening.

The only team in history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the NLCS is the 2003 Miami Marlins, who won their last two games on the road against the Chicago Cubs, in a series memorable for the incident involving Cubs fan Steve Bartman.

Yet, the Mets’ faith seems stronger than ever.

“Why not us?” Nimmo asked. “We’ve been in tough spots all year and we’ve consistently risen to the occasion. Many would even say we perform our best in those moments.

“If anyone can achieve this, it’s us.”

Can you blame the Mets for their excitement?

They made history by becoming the first team since the Los Angeles Angels in the 2002 World Series to not strike out in a postseason game.

“This is unbelievable,” exclaimed Mets DH Jesse Winker, who also hit his first triple in four years. “I’m still in shock. In this era of high strikeouts, achieving that is extraordinary.

“We have a unique lineup. We executed a solid game plan tonight under pressure. We knew we had to do something exceptional, and we believe we can continue this trend.

“And I genuinely believe we can accomplish this.”

In the Mets’ clubhouse, confidence was palpable along with the presence of several standout performances.

First baseman Pete Alonso, possibly playing his last game at Citi Field as a Met, ignited the team with a towering three-run homer in the first inning on an 85-mph slider from Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty.

“Honestly, it’s hard to put into words,” Alonso reflected. “It’s the magic of the postseason. I had no idea how low that pitch was.”

But as his teammates noted, this is the Polar Bear. They expect big moments from him.

“For the rest of us regular players, we might hit it out,” Nimmo said. “But for him, it’s just another home run. Typical Pete.”

Young catcher Francisco Alvarez, who had struggled with a .158 batting average and no extra-base hits or RBIs during this postseason, stepped up with a double on his first at-bat, followed by a single and an RBI in his next two appearances. He credited teammate Starling Marte with providing a motivating pep talk.

“The biggest change has been his confidence,” Marte noted. “He’s the kind of player who takes advice and puts it into action.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza remarked: “When you’re struggling, there’s a lot of outside noise telling you what to do, especially during these crucial games. Keeping it simple is key. And he’s doing just that.

“It’s easy for me to say that, but credit goes to him. He’s a really talented player, and he’s proving it.”

Marte contributed significantly, ending up 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs, making him the first Met to record three doubles in a playoff game.

“I could go 0-for-5 and it wouldn’t matter,” Marte shared. “As long as I give 100%, and the team is successful, it’s thrilling. As long as I’m contributing, I believe we can succeed.”

Shortstop Francisco Lindor was once again pivotal, going 2-for-4 with three times on base, scoring two runs, and driving in another. Lindor is the driving force of the Mets; their performance often echoes his.

He opened the match with a single and hit a run-scoring triple in the third inning.

“Right now, we’re playing with a lot of confidence,” said Lindor. “We know what we’re capable of.”

The Mets now head to Los Angeles for Game 6. Their ace, Sean Manaea, will be on the mound, while the Dodgers will employ a bullpen strategy. The last matchup like this ended with a 7-3 win for the Mets. Should it reach Game 7, Luis Severino could face off against a Dodgers starter.

Walker Buehler, anything is possible.

“You learn not to get stressed,” Nimmo shared. “For newcomers, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and start making changes. However, we’ve been successful by concentrating on the process for the past four or five months, so now is not the time to alter it.

“We can achieve this.”

The Mets have demonstrated their capabilities all season, so why stop now?

“If you don’t have faith, you shouldn’t be in this position,” Lindor stated. “We must have faith.”