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A16 sports
Friday 25 November 2022
White steps in, focused on giving Jets a ‘fighting chance’

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. since 1950 to pass for at
AP Pro Football Writer least 400 yards in their first
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) career start.
— Mike White has already But he hurt his right forearm
made it into the Pro Foot- early in a loss at Indianapo-
ball Hall of Fame. lis and was intercepted four
So replacing a struggling times the following week in
Zach Wilson and trying to a defeat against Buffalo.
spark a stagnant offense Joe Flacco replaced him
should be no biggie for the as the starter until Wilson re-
New York Jets’ new starting turned — and White hasn’t
quarterback. taken a snap in a regular-
Right? season game since.
“Any time you step in the And he wasn’t sure when
huddle as a quarterback — if ever — the next would
and you have grown men come.
looking at you, it means “You go through those
something to me, whether mental battles,” White said,
we’re 0-16 or if we’re fight- “and you’ve got to pick
ing for a playoff spot,” yourself back up and fo-
White said. “I’m focused cus.”
on the Bears and focused Flacco started the first
on performing well enough three games this season
for these guys in the locker New York Jets quarterback Mike White (5) practices before a preseason NFL football game against while Wilson was sidelined
room and help give us all a the New York Giants, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. with another knee injury,
fighting chance to win ball- Associated Press and there were times the
games.” a brutal performance in on it and be frustrated with White was a fifth-round pick home crowd chanted for
That’s all the Jets — in New York’s 10-3 loss at New it.” by Dallas out of Western White to play as the Jets
the middle of the playoff England last Sunday during Entering last season, White Kentucky in 2018. He was started 1-2. He heard them,
hunt at 6-4 — are asking which he was 9 of 22 for just was merely another arm in signed to New York’s prac- but couldn’t give in to won-
of White, who’ll get his first 77 yards. The Jets managed Jets camp. A few months tice squad a year later and dering, “What if?”
regular-season NFL start in 2 total yards on seven pos- later, he briefly became a worked in relative obscurity “I appreciate the support,”
more than a year Sunday sessions in the second half. headline-making folk hero while the focus was set on White said. “But once you
at MetLife Stadium against Saleh insisted it’s a tem- for his three-touchdown, Sam Darnold and then Wil- start to get out of this locker
Chicago. porary mental and physi- 405-yard performance in son. room, you can get down
“For Mike, it’s obviously a cal “reset” for Wilson. The his first NFL start — a 34-31 When Wilson injured his rabbit holes and let your
great opportunity for him,” coach will evaluate the po- win over Cincinnati. right knee against New mind wander and you kind
coach Robert Saleh said. sition daily, but this is now White’s 37 completions England in Week 7 last sea- of become unfocused.”
“And I know he’ll attack it.” White’s opportunity. set a league record for a son, White replaced him Last month, the Jets pro-
Saleh announced the Again. player making his first start, and got the start the fol- moted White from No. 3 on
team’s decision Wednes- “You’ve got to stay ready,” and his jersey and game lowing week. In that victory the depth chart past Flac-
day it was benching Wilson, White said, “because when ball ended up on display in against the Bengals — with co. Saleh said they would
the No. 2 overall pick in last your moment does come Canton, Ohio. fans chanting his name — want to see what White
year’s draft, and starting and if you let it pass by, “He’s a baller,” wide re- White joined Cam Newton could do in case Wilson
White. Wilson is coming off you’re going to look back ceiver Braxton Berrios said. (2011) as the only players was injured.q

Bills beat Lions 28-25 for 2nd win in 5

days at Ford Field

Josh Allen set up the game- field goals in the 31-23 win rushing touchdown in the
winning kick by starting the over Cleveland. first half, finishing 24 of 42
drive with a 36-yard pass to Allen threw a go-ahead, for 253 yards to more than
Stefon Diggs and running 5-yard touchdown pass to make up for throwing his
twice for 12 yards. Diggs with 2:40 left, but Bass 11th interception of the
Buffalo (8-3) has won two missed the extra point to season.
straight to move a half- make it 25-22. Detroit (4-7) missed an op-
game ahead of Miami in The Lions converted fourth- portunity to win four straight
the AFC East. and-1 from midfield with games for the first time
The Bills were back in De- Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 7-yard since 2016 and lost a fran-
troit after the NFL shifted end-around to set up Mi- chise-record sixth straight
their previous home game chael Badgley’s game-ty- game on Thanksgiving.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs into the end zone for against Cleveland to Ford ing, 51-yard field goal with Goff was 23 of 37 for 240
a 3-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game Field because of a winter 23 seconds to go. Badgley yards with 1-yard touch-
against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in Detroit.
Associated Press storm dumping several feet missed a 29-yard field goal down pass to St. Brown that
of snow in western New late in the third and Jared made it 14-all late in the first
By LARRY LAGE onds left, lifting the Buffalo York. Goff took a sack for a safe- half, and a 1-yard touch-
AP Sports Writer Bills to a 28-25 win over the They had to work harder ty in the same quarter and down to DJ Chark that
DETROIT (AP) — Tyler Bass Detroit Lions on Thursday for for the win on Thursday those mistakes proved to pulled the Lions within three
made a tiebreaking, 45- their second victory in five than they did against the be costly. points early in third quarter
yard field goal with 2 sec- days at Ford Field. Browns. Bass was 6 for 6 on Allen had a passing and at 22-19.q