Jewell said: "We've done fantastically well and I'm not going to deny that. It was quite interesting, I was watching Manchester United versus Chelsea on Sunday and [presenter] Richard Keys said the lead was now ten points. I could have sworn it was six points! I thought we were second.
"Even the Bolton chairman [Phil Gartside] said on the radio if you offered them being two points behind Wigan after 12 games, they thought they'd be bottom.
"So we've still got a bit to do to convince people and also convince myself. I don't want to get too prickly about everything, I'm just telling you the nation doesn't see us as a threat."
Jewell understands that it is hard to imagine the Latics finishing second in the table, but he's not scared of giving it a go.
"I know we won't be second at the end of the season. We all know that. If we stay in the league, it will be a major achievement. Anything else we do, if we manage that, will be amazing.
"Nothing's out of the question but we live in the real world here. Wigan to be second in The Premiership at the end of the season is never going to happen, even though we'll be giving it our best shot to finish top."