The New York Jets benched second overall pick Zach Wilson in favor of Mike White heading into this week against the Chicago Bears. The result is an official quarterback controversy at One Jets Drive after White turned in an excellent performance to win 31-10 at MetLife Stadium.
White was efficient, collected and confident with every throw, totaling 315 yards and three touchdown passes on 22 of 28 to turn around an offense that struggled a lot in New England last week.
The first half was where White did most of his damage, as he totaled 235 yards and two touchdowns as torrential rain sprayed the MetLife turf.
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Mike White of the New York Jets throws against the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium on November 27, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Garrett Wilson, the 10th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, scored the first two touchdowns for White after catching an eight-yard wide pass on the opening drive followed by a 54-yard sweep over the Bears defense. to make it. 14-10.
“He made easy look easy,” head coach Robert Saleh said after the game on NFL Network.
Wilson was the Jets’ leading receiver with 95 yards on five receptions (eight targets), while Elijah Moore, who has had a rollercoaster year with the Jets, including a trade request, scored his first touchdown of the season in a 22-yard shot by White in the second half. In five games White has played Moore, the Ole Miss second-round pick has scored in four of them.
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On the other hand, it was a different quarterback situation as Justin Fields, who has been cooking in recent weeks despite Chicago continuing to lose, was out with a shoulder injury. That left Trevor Siemian to start, though it was almost Nathan Peterman when reports surfaced that Siemian strained his oblique during pregame warmups.
Siemian would put on his helmet and head into the Bears’ first drive that ended in a field goal, while driving the ball down the field. Then he found Byron Pringle on a four-yard pass for his first (and only) touchdown pass of the game to give the Bears a 10-7 lead.
Ty Johnson of the New York Jets runs for yards against the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium on November 27, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
But the Jets defense didn’t allow anything else to happen on the Bears’ side of the scoring. They pressured Siemian, getting him to throw an interception in the second half and sacking him twice. He finished 14 of 25 for 179 yards.
In the running game, it was a surprise to see Jets rookie Zonovan Knight lead with 69 yards on 14 carries in his first taste of NFL action. He also had three receptions for 34 yards.
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Ty Johnson also had 62 yards on five carries for New York, with Michael Carter having 21 yards on six carries with two receptions for 15 yards as well.
For the Bears, David Montgomery was the workhorse with Khalil Herbert still on the IR. He had 79 yards on 14 carries.
With the win, the Jets improve to 7-4 and White will surely be in the conversation to start next week against the Minnesota Vikings on the road, as the playoffs are still in New York’s sights.
Mike White of the New York Jets celebrates a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium on November 27, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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On the other hand, the Bears drop to 3-9 and will face the Green Bay Packers next Sunday at Soldier Field.
