Don't blame QB Mike White for Jets' agonizing loss
Don't let the stats fool you. Quarterback Mike White was let down by his team Sunday, not the other way around.
In Sunday's 27-22 loss to the Vikings (10-2), the Jets' QB finished with a weak stat line -- a completion percentage of 54.4, a passer rating of 59.8, no passing TDs, and two interceptions,
Blame White's offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur, and wide receivers not named Garrett Wilson (162 yards on eight catches) for the loss.
Zonovan "Bam" Knight averaged six yards per attempt, but LaFleur only gave him the ball 15 times. White passed 57 times, making the offense predictable and the QB's job harder. The unbalanced game plan didn't make sense.
Moreover, LaFleur's red zone playcalling was atrocious, forcing the team to settle for field goals in all but one of their six trips inside Minnesota's 20-yard line. Had the Jets run more often, especially near the goal line on third- and fourth-and-one late in the game, New York might have won.
Instead, LaFleur passed, and his receivers didn't deliver.
Wideout Braxton Berrios made mistakes in the red zone that likely cost the Jets the game. Most will remember his drop in the end zone on a fourth-and-one play, but his most egregious error came on this play when he seemed to turn the wrong way with the ball and caused tackle George Fant to draw a costly penalty:
White's first interception came off a deflected pass to veteran Corey Davis, who should have made the catch.
Elijah Moore, who had two catches for seven yards, was unable to control his feet on a routine catch near the sideline, costing the Jets a big gainer. Tyler Conklin only brought in two of his seven targets and couldn't make contested catches.
White may have missed an open Moore on the game's final play, but he's not the reason the Jets lost. As the Jets make a playoff push, it's clear he should be the guy leading the offense, not former first-round pick Zach Wilson.
More must-reads: