The Jets have been plagued by issues at the top of the pyramid from ownership down to the GM, which has resulted in some really poor use of the draft, free agent signings, lack of a team strategy/identity, lack of commitment to a given QB, etc. It has been difficult for any coach to succeed in that environment.
A lot of fingers were point at GM Tannenbaum (2006-13). They seem to be more 'stable' with Maccagnan as GM (2015 - ?); but, Bowles was his guy and no one is sure of him yet. The question for him is can he build a team around Sam Darnold, who seems to have the bones to be a QB. The pressure will be on Maccagnan and not whoever they get as a coach for the team to improve in 2019, say 9-7 or 8-8 in a week AFC East. If they don't, he's going as the jets won't risk damaging Darnold.
As for the Pats, they obviously have a good organization. That said, their success over the last 20 or so years has been helped by how poor the rest of the AFC East has been during that time. It's rare For an AFC East team to give a Brady & Co. a run (maybe that a team in the AFC East team besides the Pats has finished above .500 and had given Brady & Co. a run. I think it was just the Jets during a 3-4 year period leaving the division's overall winning percentage during the last two decades at about .420, excluding New England. Not saying they wouldn't make the playoffs; but, if the Division was a bit better and the Pats adsorbed say 2 extra losses, that could occasionally cost them home field advantage. Since 2000, the Pats have played in 12 of the 18 AFC title games and have won 8 of those. The Pats are 6-1 at home in those games; but, they are 2-3 away from Foxborough (both wins in Pittsburgh and before 2004/5). Just food for thought.
