Mike White delivered one of the most unlikely passing performances in NFL history in his first NFL start, heard his name chanted by the home crowd, and rallied the New York Jets to a stunning 34-31 upset over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Replacing injured No. 2 overall draft pick Zach Wilson, White passed for three touchdowns and 405 yards, the Jets’ first 400-yard passing day since 2000 and the most by a first-time starter since Cam Newton’s 422 yards for the Carolina Panthers in 2011.
White’s coach, Robert Saleh, may have sparked a future quarterback controversy at the end of a storybook afternoon. When asked if White could be the Jets’ long-term solution, Saleh remained vague. Wilson, who is expected to miss at least one more game due to a sprained knee, did not receive his commitment.
“We’ll take things day by day, but anything is possible, right? Everything is possible “Saleh stated.
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“It goes back to that whole theory, the difference between player A and player Z is opportunity and reps,” Saleh explained further. “That is exactly what this league is. That’s how professional sports work. That’s why [guys] appear out of nowhere; someone gets a chance. Mike has the world at his disposal if he takes advantage of his opportunity. All he has to do now is take advantage of it.”
White will get the start against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night, according to Saleh. If he performs well, the Jets (2-5) will have to make a big decision.
White, a former Dallas Cowboys draft pick who has been cut five times in his NFL career, rallied the Jets from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. They came in as an 11.5-point underdog, making this their third-largest upset win in the last 40 years.
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He completed 37 of 45 attempts with all short passes. He played with poise despite two interceptions in the first half and a neck injury that forced him to miss a few snaps.
White, who completed his first 11 passes, energized the Jets’ previously dormant offense from the start. By the end of the second half, the crowd was chanting, “Mr. Mike White! Mr. Mike White!” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“At first, I had to listen again,” he explained. “‘Are they chanting my name?’ I wondered… That was really neat.”
Down 31-20, White scored on two consecutive possessions by throwing touchdown passes to running back Ty Johnson (19 yards) and tight end Tyler Kroft (13 yards). The team’s first interception in nine games was set up by defensive end Shaq Lawson, who also had a touchdown.
The game-winner came on a two-point conversion after Kroft’s touchdown. The Jets executed their own version of the “Philly Special,” with White passing the ball to wide receiver Jamison Crowder and then catching a pass from Crowder in the end zone.
“In those two seconds, all I could think was, ‘Don’t drop it, don’t drop it,'” White said with a smile.
Mike White’s 405 yards in his first NFL start were the second-most by a quarterback. He is also the first Jets quarterback to throw for 400 yards since Vinny Testaverde in 2000.
The Jets’ defense, which was humiliated in a 54-13 loss to the New England Patriots last week, held on to a 34-31 lead.
“He’s a savage, a dog, an animal,” Johnson said of White, who won the backup job in training camp after spending time on the Jets’ practice squad last season.
Beleaguered offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur decided to go with a pass-happy approach after his unit scored in the first quarter for the first time. Given White’s lack of experience, it was unconventional. However, it was successful.
“Mike called me on Saturday and said he was going to let it rip to start the game,” said White, who played two-plus quarters last week. “He expected them to be tight on the ground with a backup making his first start. They were taken aback by the decision to let it go so soon.”
White did not advance the ball downfield. According to ESPN Stats & Information, none of his 45 attempts traveled more than 15 yards in the air. Despite this, he put up huge numbers, as did running back Michael Carter (9 catches for 95 yards) and Crowder (8 for 84 yards). Wilson’s 405 yards were the second-most by a first-time starter since 1950.
“You’re all surprised by what he did, but I’m not,” Carter said of White, who missed a few games due to a sore neck.
White was described as “awesome” and “fantastic” by Saleh. He declined to comment on whether this will allow the Jets to be more patient with Wilson’s injury, only saying that it is “day-to-day.” White stated that he is not even considering his future role.
“I did a good job of not making it more than it is,” White said. “What also helped a lot was the coaches and the team’s faith in me. There was no flinch.”
