I am being fair - and that happens all the time, every year.
What's a real team?
The Patriots lost their starting C, their starting LT (and their RT for a time), and played last week with 2 UDFA rookie WRs and 1 TE on a sprained MCL, as the #2 and 3 receivers went down. They lost their all-world starting FB and his back-up. If someone beat them, would the line be that they beat a "banged-up" team?
The Pats also lost their WR depth in the AB idiocy. For all of that, look where they are.
The only reason people can criticize the Pats thus far this year is the "eye-test" - their offense has looked out of sync. They're 6-0. They've clobbered every team they've played except Buffalo, in Buffalo, which will be a tough out for anyone this year.
The Jets played Buffalo to the wire. They have a good defense and some good skill players. They're not a playoff team, but they're not nearly as bad as their record thus far.
The Steelers will be in the playoff hunt.