Backup QB leads NY to big upset

White throws for 405 yards, 3 TDs, catches 2-point pass in 34-31 win

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Mike White caught himself listening to the crowd for a moment during his first NFL start.

The shouts of New York Jets fans echoed throughout MetLife Stadium, and the quarterback realized they were celebrating him.

“At first, I kind of had to listen again,” White said with a smile after leading the Jets to a stunning 34-31 comeback victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. “Like, are they chanting my name?”

They sure were, and for good reason. White threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns, caught a 2-point conversion pass on the go-ahead score and joined Cam Newton (2011) as the only players since at least 1950 to throw for 400 or more yards in their first career start.

“He’s a dog. He’s an animal. He’s a savage,” running back Ty Johnson said.

White, starting in place of injured rookie Zach Wilson, pulled off the improbable victory for the Jets (2-5) while going 37 of 45 — setting an NFL record for the most completions in a player’s first start.

“Going out and watching film at the beginning of the week and seeing what they do on defense, I knew there would be completions out there,” White said.

He overcame two early interceptions and also became the Jets’ first 400-yard passer since Vinny Testaverde threw for 481 on Christmas Eve 2000, a span of 327 games. And he even left for a few plays to be checked for a neck injury.

All that from a backup who was a fifth-round pick of Dallas in 2018 out of Western Kentucky and hadn’t thrown an NFL pass until last week. And with Wilson still out for at least next Thursday night’s game Indianapolis, White will get a chance for an encore.

“Got outcoached, got outplayed today,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said. “They’re a hungry team.”