EAST RUTHERFORD – Benching struggling starter Zach Wilson ahead of Sunday’s crunch game against the Chicago Bears, Jets head coach Robert Saleh was adamant the goal was to get Wilson back on the field in at some point this season.
Good luck with that.
This is Mike White’s team now, an obvious declaration he put an exclamation point on with a big play in Gang Green’s 31-10 win at MetLife Stadium.
Author of the aptly titled “Mike White Game” last year against the Cincinnati Bengals, White started the season third on the depth chart behind Wilson and Joe Flacco, but was elevated to a backup role a few weeks ago and got the call earlier this week over Flacco, who started with White earlier this season to take over after Wilson’s poor play and ill-advised comments following a loss at New England.
Back on the field, White dazzled at times, albeit against an inferior Bears defense, completing 22 of 28 passes for 315 yards, three touchdowns and zero losses; it was his second career 300-yard passing game, compared to last year’s second overall pick Wilson’s just one in his first 20 career starts.
Additionally, the 464 total yards of offense marked a season high.
The win puts the Jets at 7-4 on the year, puts them back in postseason contention in a very crowded AFC East and gives them momentum heading into a crucial road contest at Minnesota next Sunday.
However, this Sunday marks the fourth time the Jets have gone with a backup quarterback this season, but also the fifth time they have faced him; Electric sophomore Justin Fields was ruled inactive before the game with a shoulder problem, and the Bears actually announced that Nathan Peterman was going to start over Trevor Siemian about an hour before the game, but Siemian ended up getting the nod despite Obvious injury oblique injury in the warm-up.
The former Jet actually gained some early traction in the first half before the wheels fell off somewhat; The Bears led 10-7 early in the second quarter after Siemian connected with Byron Pringle for a four-yard touchdown.
White had a big first half, however, connecting with Garrett Wilson for an eight-yard touchdown to open the scoring on a 9-play, 75-yard drive just 4:48 into the game. A Cairo Santos field goal led to the rest of the first quarter’s scoring and Pringle’s catch in the end zone briefly put the Bears ahead, but it was clear that the Jets’ offense, which seemed to finally be firing on all cylinders with White back at the helm, was simply too much for them. a lot.
The combination of White and Wilson came through again late in the second quarter, and this time in much more impressive fashion, with a 54-yard field goal that brought the rain-soaked crowd to its feet. White found his rookie receiver open down the middle of the field, who then made a stunning cut to reach the end zone and ran it the rest of the way, restoring the lead for the Jets.
Greg Zuerlein’s long field goal through that heavy rain pushed their lead to 17-10 with 12 seconds left in the first half, but Gang Green kept the pressure on, making it a two-point game on the second drive. the other half.
Elijah Moore, who has been vocal about his displeasure with Zach Wilson’s offense, was on the receiving end for his first touchdown of the season after he made a 22-yard catch in the end zone with 6:35 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to 24-10.
Ty Johnson broke the game open on Gang Green’s next possession with a 32-yard rushing touchdown down the left sideline to make it 31-10 and secure the eventual lead.
