GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Jets hoped to be playing in January. Instead, their season ended in October.

The Cardinals dominated the Jets 28-3 on Monday night at University of Phoenix Stadium, handing the Jets their fourth straight loss and dropping their record to 1-5, effectively dashing any playoff hopes for this team unless you expect them to go on a 10-game winning streak.

Making matters worse, the Jets have a quarterback controversy brewing thanks to another ineffective game from Ryan Fitzpatrick. Jets coach Todd Bowles pulled Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter and inserted Geno Smith, setting up the possibility of a switch at the spot. But Bowles threw cold water on that after the game, saying he just wanted to get Smith some reps in the blowout.

“It was like a relief pitcher if the starting pitcher isn’t doing it this game, this day, you put in a relief pitcher. Fitz will be back next week,” Bowles said.

Terry Francona he’s not.

You could not blame Bowles for going to Smith, but he probably should have made the move at halftime. The Jets’ offense was listless with Fitzpatrick at the helm. In the first half, the Jets had 130 total yards, went 0-for-7 on third down and had just five first downs.

Instead of making the change at halftime, Bowles stuck with Fitzpatrick until he threw an interception at the end of the third quarter. Smith came into the game with 8:20 left and the Jets trailing by 25 points. He moved the offense 28 yards before throwing an interception on fourth down.

Fitzpatrick was 16 of 31 for 174 yards and an interception. Smith played the one series, going 4 of 6 for 31 yards and an interception.

This loss was not all about the quarterback. The offensive line played terribly. The Jets managed just 33 rushing yards, 19 from Matt Forte on nine carries. The defense gave up another big play and Bowles seems to have no answers to turn the season around.

“We’ve got to get a spark somehow,” Bowles said. “We’re in games and we’re making too many bad mistakes at critical times, obviously, on both sides of the ball. Injuries are going to happen. That’s not an excuse for us. The guys that go in got to understand what they’re doing and know how to play football. We’ve got to make plays. We’ve got to make a play at a critical time to get us going.”

Cardinals running back David Johnson was the one making the big plays for the home team. He scored three touchdowns, including a 58-yard score in the first quarter that gave the Cardinals a lead they would not relinquish. Johnson ran for 111 yards on 22 carries.

The Jets’ list of issues in this game could stretch from Phoenix to Florham Park. They had 12 penalties, two that were declined (Buster Skrine had four by himself.) They were 2-for-13 on third down. They went 0-for-2 in the red zone. They went scoreless in the second half and have now been outscored 51-7 in the second half over their last four games. It was the second time in the last four games they failed to score a touchdown.

It was one mistake after another.

Even with all the issues on display Monday night, the focus this week will be on the quarterback and whether the Jets should stick with Fitzpatrick, to whom they gave $12 million this summer.

“It definitely wasn’t Fitz’s fault,” Bowles said. “He barely had time to throw. Anybody we put back there would have had problems.”

Fitzpatrick said he still believes he is the right man to be the Jets’ starting quarterback, but acknowledged he has to play better.

“I didn’t hit some throws that I’ve got to hit,” Fitzpatrick said. “There were probably four occasions where I could have made a better play. … As an offense, we’re just not consistent right now. The offense goes as the quarterback goes, so I’ve got to play better.”

Smith told ESPN before the game he is getting “antsy.” Afterward, he chose his words carefully, admitting frustration, but saying that is more about the team’s struggles than him being on the bench.

“As a competitor, I want to play at all times. I think you guys know that,” Smith said. “I can’t reiterate that enough, but it’s not about me, never has been. We’re 1-and-whatever. We have to pull ourselves out of the hole, no matter who it is, no matter how we spark this thing. We’ve got to figure out a way to get some wins and really get our offense going and get into position to feel good about ourselves. Right now, we don’t.”

It was clear from the start of the game the Cardinals (3-3) were the better team. The Jets managed just one first down and 27 yards in the first quarter. Johnson ran through the Jets’ defense, juking inside linebacker Erin Henderson, on his way 58 yards for his first touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

The Jets cut it to 7-3 in the second quarter, but the Cardinals answered on their next drive, an 11-play, 75-yard march that included a killer pass-interference penalty against Skrine. The penalty, which looked questionable, moved the Cardinals 19 yards to the Jets’ 25. Johnson capped the drive off with a 2-yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead that felt insurmountable. Two second-half touchdowns put the game out of reach.

Now, the Jets are left searching for answers with 10 games left in the season.

“The reality is we’re not a good team right now,” said wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who had only three catches. “That’s the reality. You have to deal with reality. I’m over that. I’ve been over that. Now we’re looking for solutions. I don’t want to be part of the problem. None of the guys in the locker room want to be part of the problem. Everyone is hurt. Everyone wants it. It’s an emotional locker room right now and it should be.”