NEW YORK — “Hello darkness, my old friend.”

That’s a lyric to Disturbed’s song, "The Sound of Silence," but it could be the theme of the New York Jets’ 2025 season.

The Jets have not played complementary football in any of their seven games this season, which is why they find themselves 0-7 and the only winless team in the NFL. Just like last week against the Denver Broncos, the Jets defense did its part, but the offense was once again lifeless against the Carolina Panthers.

In the 13-6 loss to Carolina, Justin Fields completed just 6 of 12 passes for 46 yards before Jets coach Aaron Glenn benched him for Tyrod Taylor to start the second half. But it didn’t matter because the Jets were only able to muster two Nick Folk field goals offensively.

Despite the change at halftime, Glenn isn’t ready to name a starter for next weekend’s game against the Bengals.

“When it goes to next week, I’m not ready to sit here and say what’s going on with our quarterbacks,” Glenn said. “I will say this, it is something I will have to look at.

Glenn will have to weigh whether the Jets’ passing game can finally taxi off the runway with Fields or if they turn to veteran Taylor, who has been the team’s backup for two seasons. They have not scored an offensive touchdown since the fourth quarter of their loss to the Cowboys in Week 5.

“How do I explain it?” Fields said about the touchdown drought. “Well, we didn’t get in the end zone. But there’s no explanation, to be honest with you. It’s as simple as we just haven’t played well enough.”

The Jets released Aaron Rodgers in March to sign Fields, 26, to a two-year, $40 million contract. They were hoping he could become a Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold figure, both are quarterbacks who revived their careers in different teams that drafted them.

But outside of his Week 1 loss against the Steelers, in which he passed for 218 yards and one touchdown, Fields’ play has been downright dreadful.

Although he hasn’t thrown an interception this season, Fields has struggled with accuracy and holding onto the ball too long inside the pocket. During the Week 6 loss against the Broncos in London, Fields completed 9 of 17 passes for 45 yards and was sacked nine times. The Jets, with Fields under center, registered -10 net passing yards against Denver.

Coming into the week, Fields acknowledged he has held the ball too long inside the pocket and vowed to be more aggressive against the Panthers, but his play resembled many of his starts this season. In his last five starts, Fields has thrown for 627 yards and three touchdowns and is completing just 61.9% of his passes. Opposing teams aren’t even scared of the Jets passing game with Fields under center and they will put eight or nine defenders at the line of scrimmage.

Glenn has also defended Fields after he was criticized for not making a quarterback change against the Broncos.

“I can’t be mad at the decision,” Fields said. “I understand why. It’s life, it’s football. I’ve learned to not take anything personally.

“Coach AG [Glenn], I think he wanted to see if there was a spark. But like I told you guys earlier in the week, I’m about to just be real right now, I’ve always asked God to give me an opportunity and a platform to spread his word and sometimes it doesn’t play out the way you always plan it. I’ve been through a lot in my career, especially in my NFL career, my college career. God’s been with me through the ups and downs, and I’m probably at a low right now and I think the old me would feel some certain type of way, but it’s just now like my faith is so rooted in Christ to where it’s like, like I told you guys earlier this week, nothing can break me.”

Glenn had no choice but to go with Taylor to begin the second half. The team is desperate to get its first win of 2025, but Taylor also struggled to get much going in the passing game. He finished the game 10 of 22 passes for 126 yards with two interceptions, both to Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn.

Taylor, 36, has been a journeyman throughout his 15-year career. He also isn’t afraid to throw the ball down the field to give his receivers a chance to catch, even in tight coverage. Taylor started in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Fields, who was out due to a concussion he suffered the previous week against the Buffalo Bills.

The Jets came into Sunday’s game against Carolina averaging 279.8 yards per game, which was the 29th best in the NFL. They also averaged 144.2 passing yards per game, which was dead last.

“As a competitor, you always want to start, but that’s not my decision,” Taylor said about potentially starting next week. “Nor will I feel any way emotionally about whatever coach chooses to decide.

“I’ll be ready for the opportunity, but I’m also here to support Justin as well, too. I got a lot of respect for him and every guy in this locker room, so I’m here to do what I need to do when my number is called.”

No matter who was back there under center, the Jets’ offensive line needs to improve. Carolina registered six sacks combined after entering the game with just five in six games, which was the fewest total in the league.

In their last two games, the Jets offensive line has given up 15 sacks.

“Same as last week, we don’t want to do that at all,” Jets offensive lineman John Simpson said. “We gotta be better and it starts with me.

“I’m supposed to be the older guy on the line and a leader, so I gotta be better in that standpoint.”

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