Mike White’s first NFL start ended in triumph and Jets history

  • New York Jets 34 (2-5)
  • Cincinnati Bengals 31 (5-3)
  • NFL, Week 8, Final, Box Score
  • MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, 2021, Week 8 Final
New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, 2021, Week 8 Final, Jet X Graphic, Getty Images

Mike White became the first New York Jets quarterback in 21 years to throw for 400 yards, complemented through scrimmage 172 yards from Michael Carter, to pave the way for an improbable 34-31 victory over the AFC-leading Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets got things rolling with their first opening quarter points of the season, cashing in on a 10-play, 75-yard drive through Carter’s punch-in from six out.

After forcing the Bengals into a three-and-out, the Jets kept the momentum rolling by going 36 yards on their next six plays.

The tide shifted, however, through Jessie Bates’ interception, one that situated the Bengals a yard away from the end zone.

New York’s defense, however, earned a goal-line stand, one punctuated by a 12-yard sack from Quinnen Williams.

But when another White pass landed in the arms of a Cincinnati defender, Germaine Pratt earning the latter takeaway, the Bengals cashed in on the first play of the second quarter, as Joe Mixon scored from a yard out.

The teams then exchanged punts after Matt Ammendola missed a 54-yard field goal for the Jets before the Bengals earned 10 straight through a two-yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase, and an Evan McPherson field goal (the latter set up through a Jamison Crowder fumble).

New York got the ball back and scored on a 67-yard drive that took 96 seconds to complete, capping things off with an eight-yard pass to Braxton Berrios (two plays after a one-handed scoring grab for Keelan Cole was denied).

The Jets tied the game with a short Ammendola field goal but Cincinnati immediately earned the lead back through Burrow’s eight-yard scoring throw to Mixon.

New York countered with another triple, but the Bengals earned a seemingly insurmountable two-possession lead on a 10-yard toss from Burrow to Tee Higgins.

But two quick touchdowns blessed the Jets with a rare fourth-quarter lead. White’s touchdown passes to Ty Johnson and Tyler Kroft sandwiched the Jets defense’s first interception of the season, with Shaq Lawson as the lucky recipient.

White helped push the lead to a field goal on a trick play that saw him catch a pass from Jamison Crowder.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1454900260040417288

The Jets forced a punt on the Bengals’ next touchdown and were able to finish things off through a pair of first downs, one earned through a helmet-to-helmet hit penalty on Cincinnati.

New York returns to action on Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts (8:20 p.m. ET, Fox/NFL Network)

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags