Jets players so happy for Mike White that they celebrated during his FOX postgame interview

Celebrating their quarterback during the postgame interview

What a difference a week can make. Last week, the Jets were deflated after a gut-punching loss to the New England Patriots thanks to a game-winning punt-return touchdown. Quarterback Zach Wilson completed just nine of 22 passes for 77 yards and nobody was celebrating.

Fast forward to Sunday. Mike White takes over at quarterback, goes 22/28 for 315 yards and three touchdowns and the Jets scored a much-needed, 31-10 victory over the Chicago Bears.

If you needed any proof that the Jets were thrilled not only for the victory but for their new quarterback, look no further than after the game on FOX.

White is being interviewed by FOX sideline reporter Pam Oliver. At least, she’s trying to interview him because here comes White’s teammates to celebrate in the middle of the interview. Oliver was able to finish the interview, but needless to say, the Jets were ready to party and could hardly contain themselves.

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Elijah Moore very happy to help contribute to Jets victory

“You don’t weather the storm, you become the storm,” says Elijah Moore.

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It was only a matter of time before Elijah Moore finally got his. It took 11 games and three quarterbacks, but Moore finally scored his first touchdown of the season in the Jets’ 31-10 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 12.

Moore was all smiles after the game when talking to the media.

His teammates also jokingly yelled, “Free that man!” as Moore took the podium. Nonetheless, Moore was very happy that his time finally came.

“I was talking to the ball yesterday,” Moore said. “I was like damn, you already know how I feel about you. I was kissing it. It was just being patient.”

Moore also provided an inspirational quote that people can take with them in life. “You don’t weather the storm,” he said. “You become the storm.”

Moore set a season-high with 64 receiving yards and this was only the second time Moore cracked 50 yards this season. He had 53 against the Steelers in Week 4.

All Moore wanted was an opportunity. He got it Sunday and took full advantage.

Robert Saleh says Michael Carter likely has an ankle sprain, will find out more Monday

Michael Carter looks to have an ankle sprain

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With James Robinson inactive, the Jets were rolling with Michael Carter, Ty Johnson and Zonovan Knight at the running back position. As the game wore on, we saw more of Johnson and Knight.

Carter left the game with an ankle injury and it looks like he’ll be out a bit. Head coach Robert Saleh told reporters after the game Carter likely has an ankle sprain. The team will find out more about the injury and the severity of the sprain on Monday.

Johnson and Knight helped carry the slack, combining for 131 yards on 19 carries on the ground and 181 total yards on 24 total touches. Johnson scored on a 32-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Robinson may return to the lineup next week against the Vikings, but the Jets may be content rolling with Johnson and Knight, who both showed speed and burst against the Bears in the 31-10 win. The Jets enter a key stretch with trips to Minnesota and Buffalo in the next two weeks, but they sit at 7-4 and as the last team in the AFC playoffs through 12 weeks.

Offense scores major confidence boost in big win over Bears

Huge win for the Jets to move back into a playoff position

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Week 12 against a depleted Chicago Bears defense provided the perfect opportunity for the New York Jets to get themselves back on track on offense with Mike White at quarterback and to give themselves a confidence boost. Safe to say they did just that in a big 31-10 victory to move to 7-4 on the year and move back into playoff positioning thanks to the New England Patriots losing on Thanksgiving.

Mike White found the magic he had against the Bengals last season, going 22/28 for 315 yards and three touchdowns. He also found quite a connection with Garrett Wilson, hooking up for two touchdowns as Wilson caught five passes for 95 yards. This was Wilson’s first game with a touchdown since Week 2 when he also had two scores against the Cleveland Browns.

Granted, the Bears were missing four key defensive players, including Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, Eddie Jackson and Dane Cruikshank, but in the rain, White took advantage and led the Jets to 24 unanswered points after being down 10-7.

Also finally getting into the touchdown club this season was Elijah Moore. White hit him for a 42-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Moore also set a season-high with 64 receiving yards.

With Michael Carter missing action with an ankle injury and James Robinson being inactive, Ty Johnson and Zonovan Knight helped carry the load, including Johnson scoring from 32 yards out for his first touchdown of the season. Johnson and Knight combined for 131 yards on 19 carries. Knight totaled 103 yards, including three catches for 34 yards.

Ten different Jets receivers caught a pass against the Bears as the offense really clicked in the second half, especially on the ground. After only accruing 26 rushing yards in the first half, the Jets found their footing and totaled 132 yards on the ground in the second half. They outgained the Bears 466-292 and were 7/12 on third down.

Against the Patriots in Week 11, the Jets had ten punts. Against the Bears in Week 12, the Jets punted just twice. On the flip side, the Bears punted five times, had a drive end on downs and threw a red-zone interception on their final drive.

This was a much-needed win for the Jets after last week. The Jets are now 7-4 and hold the 7th and final playoff spot in the AFC thanks to the Patriots losing on Thursday to the Vikings, the team the Jets visit next Sunday. Then it’s a trip to Buffalo in Week 14. A key stretch for the Jets as they look to end their playoff drought — their last trip was the 2010 season.

After this two-game road trip, the Jets will have their last two home games in Weeks 15 and 16 against the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars before wrapping up the season with trips to Seattle and Miami.

Robert Saleh made a difficult decision to bench the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, Zach Wilson. But if the Jets keep this stretch going on offense. it may be the decision that saves the Jets season. For now, it’s a huge victory and the Jets are now 7-4. On to Minnesota.

 

Watch: Another first-time touchdown scorer this season as Ty Johnson joins the fun

Ty Johnson with a touchdown!

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The Jets are starting to pour it on against the Chicago Bears. After Elijah Moore scored his first touchdown of the season, running back Ty Johnson scored his first of the year on a 32-yard touchdown run, putting the Jets ahead 31-10.

Johnson and Zonovan Knight will be leading the charge with Michael Carter questionable with an ankle injury, but so far, they have handled their own. They have combined for 72 yards on 10 carries.

Watch: Elijah Moore scores first touchown of season

Elijah Moore has a touchdown!

It took 11 games and three different quarterbacks, but Elijah Moore has his first touchdown of the season after connecting with Mike White on a 22-yard score.

After the touchdown catch, Moore now has a season-high 64 yards receiving today. His previous high was 53 in Week 4 against the Steelers.

The touchdown put White at 18/23 for 259 yards and three touchdowns, meaning he already is just one touchdown shy of matching Zach Wilson’s total of four to this point and two away from tying Joe Flacco for the season lead with five.

 

First-half notes as Jets lead Bears 17-10

First-half notes

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Mike White came to play. In his first start of the season for the Jets after the benching of Zach Wilson, White has connected twice with Garrett Wilson on touchdown passes and the Jets have a 17-10 lead at halftime.

The offense, for the most part, has looked quicker and more explosive than it did over the last month and change. White already has triple the passing yards that Wilson had last week against the Patriots. White is 16/20 for 235 yards and two touchdowns with a QB rating of 149. So far, he has the magic that led the Jets to a win over the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals last season.

Garrett Wilson is probably a little happier now. The rookie expressed frustrations with the offense after the Patriots loss. No such frustrations so far today. Seven targets, four catches, 86 yards and two touchdowns.

The Jets are outgaining the Bears on offense, 254-158 and are a solid 5/8 on third down.

The Jets are also spreading the ball out quite a bit. Ten players have at least one catch and eight have at least ten yards receiving.

On the flipside, the defense started out sluggish, but have gotten back on track. A couple of big plays early helped lead to the ten points for the Bears, and somehow, Trevor Siemian is 8/11 for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Neither team is having success on the ground. The Bears are outrushing the Jets, 31-26.

Overall, a successful first half for the Jets. Can the offense keep the momentum rolling? Can the defense start the second half with a stop? The Bears get the ball to start the second half. A win goes a long way in their playoff push, especially after the Patriots lost on Thursday to fall to 6-5.

Watch: Mike White and Garrett Wilson connect for 2nd time

Second touchdown of the day for Garrett Wilson.

Make that two touchdown connections for Mike White and Garrett Wilson against the Bears. White hit Wilson in stride and Wilson went 55 yards to put the Jets up 14-10.

One storyline from that play to watch now is Bears safety Eddie Jackson went down with a leg injury and had to be helped off the field. The Bears are already without defensive backs Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon.

White is now 12/16 for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson has four catches for 86 yards and the two scores.

Watch: Mike White finishes strong first drive with touchdown to Garrett Wilson

Mike White to Garrett Wilson for an opening-drive touchdown

That was about as great of a first drive as you could ask for from the Jets, especially after making a switch at quarterback.

The offense looks quicker and crisper, Mike White is already 6/7 in passing and has a touchdown to Garrett Wilson to give the Jets a 7-0 lead early in Week 12.

Even Zonovan Knight had two touches on the opening drive.

Check out Wilson’s touchdown grab:

After back-and-forth and down to the wire, the Bears are starting Trevor Siemian

It’s Trevor Siemian, after all

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The Bears took game-time decision literally when it came to who will start at quarterback in Week 12. But it looks like it will be Trevor Siemian after all getting the start.

Siemian was originally going to take over for Justin Fields, who is out with a shoulder injury, but reportedly injured his oblique in pregame warmups, opening the door for Nathan Peterman. Then the Bears decided to wait until kickoff to name a starter. Now it looks like it will be Siemian after all is said and done.