EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Sunday's game was as exciting as one of Todd Bowles' news conferences, a total bore that probably didn't help the NFL's ratings crisis. The best play was a 78-yard punt by Johnny Hekker, and that should tell you plenty about the New York Jets and Los Angeles Rams.

But you know what? The crowd at MetLife Stadium was into it. There was no booing because this was Christmas morning for long-suffering Jets fans, who got their wish.

The Jets' Bryce Petty had flashes of success in his first NFL start but regressed as Sunday's game against the Rams wore on. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Bryce Petty started, Ryan Fitzpatrick didn't, and that was enough to brighten the mood -- well, temporarily. In the end, the Jets were worse than the lousy Rams, falling by a baseball score of 9-6.

There will be plenty of time over the bye week to bash the pathetic Jets (3-7), so let's stick to the big question on this day: Petty or Fitzpatrick?

It's really a no-brainer: It has to be Petty.

The season is over, and it's time to evaluate Petty, who may or may not be the quarterback of the future. There's only one way to find out: Play him. Fitzpatrick, a lame duck, probably could win a game or two more than Petty, but is there a difference between 6-10 and 4-12?

Coach Todd Bowles said he will take a few days to make a decision, evaluating Petty's performance and Fitzpatrick's injured knee. Don't overthink it, Todd.

"I'm trying to play the best player right now and win ballgames," said Bowles, who can use the bye week as an excuse to drag out his decision. "If it's Bryce, it's Bryce. If it's Fitz, it's Fitz."

Petty's starting debut was nothing out of a storybook, that's for sure.

He provided an early spark, culminating a 99-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass on a hook-and-lateral play, but he blew two chances in the final six minutes to pull out a win. His day ended with a bad interception at midfield with 1:52 to play, maybe a first down or two from a potential tying field goal. He finished 19-for-32, 163 yards, presiding over an offense that punted eight times in 11 possessions. That's bad football. The Jets are a bad team.

Petty held the ball too long at times, missed a wide-open Robby Anderson for what should have been a 68-yard touchdown and failed to recognize the soft spots in the Rams' Cover 2 scheme. Guess what? It was his first real game since the fall of 2014, his senior year at Baylor.

"I'm not going to let this define my career," Petty said. "I'm going to grow from it, learn from it and be ready to go."

Petty didn't have the benefit of a full practice week, as he split the first-team reps with the sore-kneed Fitzpatrick, who dressed as the No. 2 quarterback. With a bye week to learn and rest, followed by a full week of game prep, he'll be better prepared for the next game, Nov. 27.

Unfortunately for him and the Jets, the next opponent is the New England Patriots.

"He made some good throws," said Bowles, evaluating Petty's first start. "He's got some growing pains. Just being out there from a composure standpoint, he was fine. He just has to clean up a few things."

Now all Bowles has to do is give him a chance.