The Jets’ playoff push is back underway
Every day’s a holiday if you’re Mike White, apparently.
Returning to the turf of MetLife Stadium over a year after his Halloween heroics, Mike White provided a perfect ending to Thanksgiving weekend for New York Jets fans, guiding the team to a season-best 466 yards, 315 coming from his own arm, in a 31-10 victory over the Chicago Bears. White was called upon to replace Zach Wilson and took full advantage of the opportunity, throwing for three scores.
The replacement immediately made his prescience felt, guiding the Jets (7-4) to a 75-yard scoring drive on nine plays, the last being Garrett Wilson‘s touchdown grab from eight yards away.
Hold @GarrettWilson_V if you'd like.
Won't matter.#CHIvsNYJ on FOX pic.twitter.com/udcCqy3iTy
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 27, 2022
Forced to use Trevor Siemian in the wake of Justin Fields’ injury, Chicago manage to keep pace with 10 quick points in response. They earned a field goal on their first possession before Byron Pringle scored on a four-yard toss from Siemian that gave them a 10-7 lead. An attempt by the Jets to tie turned into a cursed game of hot potato thanks to precipitation in the North Jersey area, as Braden Mann botched a snap on a 36-yard attempt from Greg Zuerlein.
Byron Pringle took it away for the @ChicagoBears TD!
📺: #CHIvsNYJ on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/BjNU8n0f1f pic.twitter.com/WLI0ErVYG8— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2022
Ball too slippery!
📺: #CHIvsNYJ on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/BjNU8n0f1f pic.twitter.com/dw9Se3uiWq— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2022
From there on out, however, it was almost entirely Jets: the Wilson surname was still nonetheless well-represented on the field by Garrett, who hooked up with White for a 54-yard tally that gave the Jets a permanent lead. Zuerlein later bested him by three yards for a triple just before the half.
Oh my, Garrett Wilson! Wilson broke some ankles and does the rest for a 54-yard TD from Mike White. pic.twitter.com/WdXc54vsy5
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 27, 2022
While the defense took care of business, the Jets’ offense finally kept its end of the bargain to the tune of two more scores: White’s third and final score went to Elijah Moore, allowing a rushing showcase to dominate the game’s final stages. With Michael Carter lost to an injury, Ty Johnson carried the load, finishing the Jets’ scoring off with a 32-yard rush to glory.
DROP AN 🎱 IN THE CHAT
TOUCHDOWN @e_moore03!!#CHIvsNYJ on FOX pic.twitter.com/BXgx6njTnZ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 27, 2022
Ty Johnson goes 32 yards for the Jets TD! @nyjets
📺: #CHIvsNYJ on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/BjNU8n0f1f pic.twitter.com/d49LUA18d3— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2022
Defensively, the Jets kept the Bears (3-9) off the board for the remainder of the game. The only drive that gained any true traction ended in a diving interception by C.J. Mosley that allowed the Jets’ rushing attack to run out the clock.
YESSIR @TreyDeuce32RTR#CHIvsNYJ on FOX pic.twitter.com/VOKVVeEixc
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 27, 2022
The Jets will continue to face NFC North competition next week, as they start a two-week road stretch against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis next Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
