Mike White of the Jets: ‘Today was a Great Team Win”

When Mike White was designated the Jets starter in place of Zach Wilson on Wednesday, White claimed he had no interest in playing “hero ball,” like he described it. On a chilly and rainy evening at MetLife Stadium a few days later, White along his large ensemble of co-stars helped the Green & White defeat the Bears 31-10.

                     QB Mike White of the Jets: “Today Was a Great Team Win”

In his first beginning of the year, White completed 22 of 28 throws for 315 yards, three touchdowns, and a 149.3 quarterback rating.

 “I think today was a full team win,” White said. “

The defense outplayed the offence, dominated the field, and made plays. When it was necessary, we ran well, and the boys were running hard. I considered it a total team victory.” 

The Jets now have a record of 7-4, which is three wins more than they did all of last year. NFL statistics show that, since 1990, playoff appearances by squads with a 7-4 result have occurred 71.4% of the time. They are still in the middle of the AFC playoff race as well as the AFC East championship contest. The two games in the next two weeks, against Minnesota and Buffalo, will be difficult.

 However, White said that his performance on Sunday, during which he once more heard Jets fans yell his name in the 4th quarter, reminded him of his initial NFL game, which took place last season over Cincinnati. 

White’s 149.3 quarterback rating on Sunday ranked second at home and seventh overall among Jets starting quarterbacks with at least 20 throw attempts in team history. Joe Namath’s 149.31 (measured retrospectively versus Boston in 1966) was the only player to have a higher home-game rating. White’s score that day was 149.26, whereas Namath’s was 149.31.

 The simple act of playing football with pals was fantastic, according to White. It was enjoyable to participate, to be there, and to support the team’s victory. 

White’s solid and consistent performance versus Chicago, according to head coach Robert Saleh, did not surprise him.

Saleh said, “He performed a fantastic job. “He didn’t have to be anyone besides Mike White. All we asked was that he play to himself and play effectively. He made it appear simple, especially outside. He did a great job, in my opinion, with that.” 

And it began with the Jets’ opening drive of the game, a nine-play, 75-yard drive that took over five minutes off the clock. For the very first time this year, New York kicked a field goal on the team’s first drive, which was capped off by Garrett Wilson’s catch of a White touchdown pass from 8 yards out. White distributed the pigskin liberally, giving it to a group of ten players. Wilson established a franchise franchise record with 5 receptions for 95 yard, his sixth 90-yard performance of the year.

He also caught 2 touchdown passes for the 2nd this year. Elijah Moore, a second-year wide receiver, made two catches for 64 and a touchdown. Moore and White worked together on a 42-yard play, while Wilson’s 54-yard catch-and-run gained a touchdown. Each wide receiver had a significant contribution.

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