Photo Credit: Mike Stoble/Getty Images
Jets fans at MetLife stadium have been dreaming of a White Christmas for the longest time. That dream came to reality as the New York Jets beat the Chicago Bears 31-10 in one of the best offensive performances shown by the Jets offense in a while, with Mike White taking control of the offense.
Before the Bears matchup, the Jets suffered a devastating loss to their division rival, the New England Patriots, due to a game-winning punt return touchdown by Marcus Jones. The Jets’ offense was non-existent, averaging almost 3 inches per play. They had more punts than completions, as they punted ten times and had nine completions.
After the matchup, Robert Saleh made it known that he wasn’t committing to Zach Wilson starting at QB for the Jets this week, and that’s when he decided that it was best for the team to bench Wilson and allow backup QB Mike White to start for the Jets. Significantly since Zach Wilson hasn’t helped the Jets reach their true potential on offense. They’ve needed to have a different type of energy and flow with the offense, and Mike White has shown in the past that he can do that.
Even though the Jets are a 5-2 record with Wilson at QB, the level of play has been different from what people have expected as his numbers are not where they need to be for a 2nd overall pick in last year’s NFL draft. What the Jets need on offense is good average quarterback play that can make the Jets move the chains and lift the weight off the shoulders of their elite defense that has been playing lights out all year.
Mike White is getting his first start of the season and his first start since November 14th, 2021.
The Jets got the ball to start the game and didn’t disappoint. Mike White made a few completions to Garrett Wilson and Tyler Conklin to drive the ball downfield. Along with Zonovan Knight, the undrafted rookie out of NC State who was officially active for the first time this season, helping contribute on offense to start the game. The Jets’ opening drive would result in a Garrett Wilson 8-yard touchdown catch from Mike White to get the Jets on the board to start the game 7-0.
Mike White was 6/7 for 69 yards on the first drive, as he looked very comfortable on offense.
Trevor Siemian is starting in place of the injured Justin Fields. The Bears’ first drive of the game had them ending up in the endzone as they could get dumped off passes to their running backs. On third and goal for the Bears, Siemian threw a back shoulder pass to Chase Claypool only to be knocked down by rookie sensation Sauce Gardner who was able to lock down Claypool. The Bears would end the drive with a Cairo Santos 22-yard field goal making the score 7-3 Jets.
Winding down the first quarter of the game, the Bears with the ball back and try to make some magic on offense where Siemian throws up a pass to Chase Claypool only to be caught for 31 yards, along with Sauce Gardner getting called for defensive pass interference as he wasn’t turned away from the receiver to look for the ball and was holding Claypool. To start the second quarter, on a third and goal for the Bears, Trevor Siemian was able to find former Chief Byron Pringle for a 4-yard touchdown catch over Jets cornerback DJ Reed, giving the Bears a 10-7 lead over the Jets.
Elijah Moore, who has been quiet for most of the season, got himself in the box score with a catch and run for 42 yards on a third and 11 play in the next Jets drive. Unfortunately, the Jets couldn’t capitalize off of the drive as the Jets had a botched field goal play where the placeholder Braden Mann couldn’t get a good grip on the ball and then tried to scramble with the ball to make a play, but it would end up with folks seeing one of the worst throws by Braden Mann. Luckily it was incomplete and not ruled a fumble so that the Bears wouldn’t get a good field position. The Bears would be unable to capitalize off the Jets’ botched field goal as Trevor Siemian was stuffed on a third and one by rookie edge rusher Jermaine Johnson and veteran linebacker Kwon Alexander, making the Bears go three and out.
The next drive for the Jets would result in a 54-yard touchdown catch and run for rookie Garret Wilson who was Wilson’s second touchdown. White was able to get the pass over the Bears’ safety as the ball landed in the arms of Garrett Wilson for the Jets to be up 14-10
The Jets ended up driving the ball downfield under the two-minute warning for the drive to end in a 57-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein. It wasn’t easy for the kick to was in the wind and right in between the goal posts to give the Jets the lead at halftime, 17-10
Mike White looked like he was able to take control and run the Jets offense to the potential they need to be at as he was 12/16 for 198 passing yards, which was the most in a first half by a Jets quarterback since himself in last year’s week eight matchup against the Bengals, and two pass touchdowns.
The Bears get the ball to start the second half of the game, first play results in a John-Franklin Meyers sack. Then, later in the third quarter, with the Bears having possession on offense, not being able to create some magic as pass rusher Bryce Huff was able to get to Trevor Siemian for a sack, shedding light on the Jets’ pass rush being able to get to the quarterback.
With Michael Carter leaving the game with an ankle injury, it was time for Ty Johnson and Zonovan Knight to take over the running back duties for Carter. Jets kept using the rushing attack to take them down to the endzone, where Mike White was able to throw his third touchdown pass of the game to Elijiah Moore for a 22-yard touchdown catch which was Moore’s first receiving touchdown of the season, giving the Jets a 24-10 lead over the Chicago Bears. Both Corey Davis and Elijah Moore were open on the play, giving Mike White many options to throw too.
The next Jets drive resulted in a Ty Johnson 32-yard rushing touchdown where Johnson could showcase his strength by breaking tackles and being elusive running the ball, showing how dominant the Jets’ rushing attack can be. The Jets are now up 31-10 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Bears would try to get on the board throughout the fourth quarter. Still, a Jordan Whitehead pass deflection on fourth and goal and, later on, a CJ Mosley interception would stop the Bears from getting on the board as the Jets would run away with their seventh victory of the season against the Chicago Bears 31-10.
The star of the game has to be nobody other than quarterback Mike White who stepped in and made the most of his opportunity as he went 22/28 with 315 passing yards and three passing touchdowns with a QBR of 149.3. Mike White is the 5th QB in NFL history to record multiple games with 300 passing yards and three pass TD within his first four starts. White joins quarterbacks Kurt Warner, Patrick Mahomes, Mark Rypien, and Austin Davis. White’s performance stunned head coach Robert Saleh where Mike White didn’t need to do too much but just ran the offense as needed.
“He did a great Job. He didn’t need to be anybody but Mike White. We didn’t need to turn into the greatest show on turf, we needed-wanted him to play within himself and play efficiently, and I thought he did. He made it look easy. I thought he did an excellent job at that”, head coach Robert Saleh told reporters.
Mike White expressed that “It’s awesome,” when talking about his performance against the Bears.
“Just go out there a playing football with your friends and guys you’ve been with for a couple of years now, and when it wasn’t my time to play, I’m super supportive of them and having fun with them too, but just to be out there and be a part of it and help the team win is always fun.”
One thing about Sunday’s game is that Mike White was able to give the Jets a better showing of what the Jets can do on offense, as everyone was getting involved in their dominating offensive showing. Elijah Moore, who was non-existent all year, scored his first touchdown of the season, racking 64 receiving yards of two catches. Moore said that this is what happens when the Jets play together as a team:
“That’s what happens when we play New York Jets football. That’s the real New York Jets football”, Moore told Jeane Coakley of SNY after the game. That’s the definition of team football. I can’t do anything but thank Mike. Thank the defense. We played as a team.
The rookie wide receiver out of Ohio State, Garrett Wilson, had another excellent game for the Jets as he piled up five receptions for 95 receiving yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Mike White’s performance gave the Jets a massive boost for the Jets rushing attack that saw them rack up 158 rushing yards on 32 carries. Ty Johnson racked up 62 rushing yards and a score, while rookie Zonovan Knight was the leading rusher with 69 rushing yards.
This game was necessary for the Jets as their next two road trips won’t be easy as they travel to Minnesota and Buffalo, who could be looking to avenge their week nine loss against the Jets. As Mike White was able to lead the Jets in the right direction and play at the level they were supposed to be at; it was able to take the pressure off the Jets’ defense which was playing a Chicago Bears defense without the likes of Justin Fields in at QB and instead having Trevor Siemian. So having this performance by Mike White can give the Jets and their fans hope to lead into their next two games so they can stay in playoff contention. They would finish with the seventh seed if the playoffs ended today, ending the league’s longest playoff drought.
The Jets travel to Minnesota to play Kirk Cousins, the Vikings who are coming off an incredible win against the Patriots on Thanksgiving. So this matchup won’t be easy as the Jets look to stop their passing attack and hopefully not let Justin Jefferson run all over them. The Jets’ defense ranks very high in the top ten, so this matchup is intriguing.
After Mike White’s performance, it’s hard to see Robert Saleh return to Wilson. White’s performance can’t be overlooked.
