Mike White had a brilliant performance on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
White stepped in for benched former first-round pick Zach Wilson. Wilson and his immaturity got him in hot water with the team. Coach Robert Saleh decided that was all he needed to know to make a change.
The team responded by thrashing the Chicago Bears. The Bears’ woeful defense could not stop White and the Jets on Sunday in East Rutherford even as rain fell.
White quickly distanced himself from Wilson, and it took only one game. As longtime Jets reporter Rich Cimini tweeted, “Mike White has two career 300-yd passing games in 4 career starts. Zach Wilson has one career 300-yd passing game in 20 career starts.”
Mike White has two career 300-yd passing games in 4 career starts.
Zach Wilson has one career 300-yd passing game in 20 career starts. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) November 27, 2022
As CBS Sports’ Twitter then reminded us, he had already made significant headway on how Wilson played of late. They tweeted, “Zach Wilson in his last 6 starts: 3 passing TD. Mike White today: 3 passing TD.”
Zach Wilson in last 6 starts: 3 passing TD
Mike White today: 3 passing TD pic.twitter.com/D8GFVaA2h1
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 27, 2022
To put it simply, the Jets looked so much better Sunday with White at the helm than they had with Wilson. The Ringer writer Rodger Sherman pointed out a crazy statistic to show it. He tweeted, “The Jets have scored twice as many points on one drive with Mike White at QB as they did in last week’s entire game with Zach Wilson at QB.”
the Jets have scored twice as many points on one drive with Mike White at QB as they did in last week's entire game with Zach Wilson at QB https://t.co/YuFqk1qQGA
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) November 27, 2022
Reactions to White’s performance continued throughout the day.
In the first half against the Bears, Mike White completed 16 of 20 passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 149.0.
That represents more passing yards (231) and touchdown passes (one) than Zach Wilson had in his last two games… combined.
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) November 27, 2022
Updated #Jets passing TD leaders
– Joe Flacco: 5 TDs in 3 games
– Zach Wilson: 4 TDs in 7 games
– Mike White: 3 TDs in 39 minutes— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 27, 2022
Mike White had 8 fewer passing yards on that drive than Zach Wilson had total against the Patriots last week.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) November 27, 2022
One more passing TD today and Mike White will tie Zach Wilson’s total for the entire season
— trey wingo (@wingoz) November 27, 2022
Jets offense w/ Zach Wilson vs. Mike White pic.twitter.com/mkwiFCcOLc
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 27, 2022
Mike White is better than Zach Wilson. I know this seems obvious but I’m not sure if the Jets know this.
— Carrington Harrison (@cdotharrison) November 27, 2022
Mike White is 18-23 for 259 yards and three touchdowns. Zach Wilson, meanwhile, looks like an extra from the Lord of the Rings. (@AndyMills_NJ photo) pic.twitter.com/lpcgtqsI5x
— Steve Politi (@StevePoliti) November 27, 2022
Insane the Jets knew for over an entire year Mike White was better than Zach Wilson but they just had to secretly pray that wasn't the case
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) November 27, 2022
3rd and 9, Mike White connects for 42 yards to Elijah Moore
Zach Wilson looking up and down the roster to see who wears #8
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) November 27, 2022
[Rich Cimini, CBS Sports, Rodger Sherman]