EAST RUTHERFORD -- If you listened close, you could hear it.

First, you'd have to tune out the deafening cheers from the Seahawk fans that made the trip to MetLife Stadium Sunday to watch a 27-17 victory over the Jets. But once you did, there it was. Faint, but recognizable.

Geno, Geno, Geno.

And with each interception thrown by starter Ryan Fitzpatrick -- an awful lot as of late -- those chants will get even louder. Which begs the question: At 1-3, is it time for the Jets to turn to polarizing, fourth-year quarterback Geno Smith?

Fitzpatrick's magical, improbable, career-best 2015 season feels like a century ago. During that 10-6 campaign, he threw a team-record 31 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 88.0

A quarter of the way through 2016, Fitzpatrick's on pace to nearly replicate those stats ... in a reciprocal fashion. He has already thrown 10 interceptions. He has tossed just four touchdowns to match. Average those out for a full 16-game season, and Fitzpatrick could be in store for a 16-touchdown, 40-interception campaign.

Yes. That's how bad he has been this year. Yet, the Jets don't seem to have lost any faith.

Head coach Todd Bowles said his confidence in Fitzpatrick is "no different than when the season started." Receiver Brandon Marshall turned into Rose Dawson and snapped at the idea of anyone else taking a snap for New York.

"I am going down in the boat with Ryan Fitzpatrick," Marshall said. "OK? You got it? Can you not ask my any more questions about it? I am going down in the boat with No. 14."

The Jets have a team that (they believe) is ready for the playoffs, and it's hard to argue against it. They have talent littered across the roster, but they're going nowhere fast with such little production at the quarterback position.

Knowing that, it would seem to make sense to turn to Smith with the season still very much alive. This is a veteran team, after all, with a win-now window that's closing.

Maybe Smith could ignite this team? Spark a postseason run?

And he very well could. So why isn't he being given the ball?

To find the answer, you need to read between the lines.

The Jets see Smith every single day in practice. They see him every single day in the meeting room. They see him every single day in the film room. It has been this way the last 16 months. The coaches know more about him than any fan, reporter or armchair quarterback. They know exactly what he can bring to the field.

Yet time and time again, they continue to turn to Fitzpatrick, knowing very well his limitations under center.

They went back to Fitzpatrick a week after he tore ligaments in his thumb last season. They went back to Fitzpatrick after the Jets lost four of five games in the middle of the season. They went back to Fitzpatrick after the quarterback held out of organized team activities and minicamp.

And they're going back to him now after nine interceptions in his last eight quarters of play.

As crazy as it may seem, Fitzpatrick is still the Jets' best option at quarterback. He gives the team the best chance to win. His teammates are behind him. They want him under center.

Heck, they skipped workouts in protest when he wasn't signed. What would happen if Bowles handed the ball to Smith, only for him to play as he has his entire career (42 turnovers in 31 games). Heck, Smith didn't exactly inspire confidence in the preseason ... he completed only 53.5 percent of his passes.

The Jets believe in Fitzpatrick. And while he certainly hasn't been good these last two games, he has hardly been the team's only issue -- the defense has allowed every quarterback faced to compile a rating over 100.

See, Marshall may have been speaking for himself, but he may as well have said it for the entire team.

The Jets are all aboard the S.S. Fitzpatrick. For better, or for worse.

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.