I think the Jets pretty much accepted this year would be a down year. They were in a bad spot because they had a bad QB, beloved by the locker room, and nobody credible enough to replace him and placate everyone. So they had to pay him and start him or risk losing the team entirely and having to rebuild with a new coach. That's my theory at least. Anyone could tell from Fitz's time in free agency that 1. the Jets didn't rate him and 2. neither did anybody else. Adding the fact that their actual QB of the future was almost certainly a project, not ready to step in in a situation like this, and they had a pretty ridiculous schedule, at least to start the year.
It really would take a miracle I think. The Jets are beaten up, and I think all four AFCW teams have looked better than them. And all three AFCN teams have a better chance to finish strong on account of their franchise players at key positions. In fact, the same pretty much goes for the Bills. Obviously the AFCS is trash, but as the Jets found out last year, you can't make the playoffs just by being better than the AFCS.