By: Gio Annatelli, The Game Day
The New York Jets haven’t made the playoffs since 2010, and for the first time since 2015, this year is their best chance to do so. At 7-4, the Jets are third in the AFC East, and if the playoffs started today, they would be the seventh seed.
New York struggled to find a franchise quarterback throughout the years but landed one in the 2021 NFL Draft with Zach Wilson. However, after struggling during his rookie season and not looking any better this year after returning from injury, Wilson was benched. In came Mike White, the fourth-year quarterback out of Western Kentucky. With the changing of the guard at quarterback, now may be the time to find the best opportunities in NY sports betting at thegameday.com.
White joined the Jets in 2019 after being drafted and released by the Dallas Cowboys. White saw his first NFL action last season against the New England Patriots, coming in relief of the injured Wilson, throwing for 202 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions.
White followed that up in his first career start against the Cincinnati Bengals, a 34-31 victory over the eventual Super Bowl runner-ups. In the game, White completed 82.2% of his passes and threw for 405 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. However, in his next two starts, he completed just 56.4% of his passes and threw for 346 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.
This year, White started the season as the third quarterback behind Wilson and Joe Flacco. He was the backup when Flacco started in place of the injured Wilson and was relegated back to third when Wilson returned.
After Wilson struggled against the Patriots two weeks ago, throwing for just 77 yards and completing 40.9% of his passes, and his post-game comments about feeling like he didn’t let the defense down, head coach Robert Saleh benched him.
It was a dream start for White against the Chicago Bears last week, leading the Jets to a 31-10 victory. White completed 78.6% of his passes and threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns. He looked poised in the pocket and moved the ball well on offense. It also seems the team rallies around White better than they have with Wilson.
In just five games played, White already has two games of over 300+ yards and two games of over three touchdowns. In 20 games, Wilson has just one 300+ yard game and has never thrown three touchdowns in a game. White’s presence in the pocket is also much better than Wilson’s, as he’s only taken five sacks (twice in a game being the most), while Wilson has been sacked 60 times (eight in one game being the most).
If the Jets want to make the playoffs this year, they need to stick with White at quarterback. Even if it’s just one game this year, White has proven he can perform at a high level with performances from last season. So it might be time for the organization to swallow the pill that Wilson isn’t their guy and White is moving forward.
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