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New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan is still chasing the Patriots. (AP Photo | Seth Wenig)

FLORHAM PARK -- The gap between the Jets and Patriots is enormous right now. But for some reason, Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan is optimistic that his team can eventually topple New England as kings of the AFC East.

"It's not unattainable," Maccagnan said Thursday.

Really? It sure looks that way here in early 2017 -- or for as long as Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, 39, continues to excel.

It was suggested to Maccagnan that he should have a Brady voodoo doll.

"It's funny," Maccagnan said with a smile. "In my phone, I think I have Tom's birthday logged in there, so every time his birthday comes up, I know he's getting one year older. I'm just joking."

Age certainly hasn't had a lot of impact on Brady lately.

"I have to find a new voodoo doll, I guess," Maccagnan joked.

Maybe that's what it'll take, though this season, it sure looked like the Jets needed more than just a little luck to get on the Patriots' elite level.

The Jets went 5-11 in 2016, while the Patriots went 14-2. The Patriots swept the Jets, winning 22-17 and 41-3. Last season, Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles debuted with a split against New England.

The Patriots this season won their NFL-record eighth consecutive division title. The Jets, meanwhile, missed the playoffs for the sixth straight year -- their longest drought since 1992-97.

Since 2001, when Brady became their starting quarterback, the Patriots have won the AFC East in 14 of 16 seasons. With Brady, they have played in six Super Bowls and have won four. The Jets still haven't been back to the Super Bowl since the 1968 season, when they won their lone championship.

One of those non-title seasons was 2008, when Brady was limited to one game by a knee injury and Miami won the division. The Jets last won the AFC East in 2002.

Though Maccagnan is well aware of the Patriots' dynasty, he doesn't fixate on it. He'd probably go insane if he did.

"You can't sit there and look how high the climb is," he said. "You just have to keep focusing on trying to make decisions that you feel will keep moving the team to the vision of where you want it. Unfortunately, it just takes time. You stay positive and you stay focused on what you want to accomplish."

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.