White tries to rebound from 2021 Bills bashing
BRIAN COSTELLO’S GANG GREEN GAME PLAN
ORCHARD PARK — When a reporter asked Mike White how he feels about facing the Bills after what happened a year ago, the Jets quarterback showed his sense of humor. “What happened a year ago?” White joked. If only he could forget.
White imploded last year against the Bills in a 45-17 loss, throwing four interceptions, three of them on consecutive possessions in the third quarter.
The Jets have a lot to play for Sunday against the Bills. They are fighting for a playoff berth and can even keep their hope of a division title alive with a win. But for White, the game will be a chance to exorcise some demons from that tough loss last year, which led to him getting benched.
“I’ve learned a lot from it, but I’ve tried my best to close the book on that and move on,” White said. “I think it’s going to be a really good test for the team. It’s obviously a very tough place to play. It’s a very good team. They’re rolling right now, so it’s going to be a battle. I’m looking forward to it.”
The Jets (7-5) need White to lead them to a win at Highmark Stadium to take some of the pressure off the final month of the season. They face the Lions and Jaguars at home after this week. Both of those look like games the Jets can win. A victory over the Bills (9-3) on Sunday would greatly improve their chances of making the playoffs.
The Jets beat the Bills a month ago at MetLife Stadium, 20-17. The game might be remembered as Zach Wilson’s last hurrah. Wilson started one more game after that before being benched for White, who is 1-1 as the starter this year.
The Bills have gotten some players back from injury since then and have won three games in a row — all away from home because a blizzard forced one of the games to be moved from Buffalo to Detroit.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said, “to play a division opponent twice, it’s hard. It’s hard because you’re trying to come up with schemes that keep them on their heels, but at the same time there’s a balance, in terms of how you do things. But they’re uber-talented, again . ... I imagine their fans haven’t seen them since God knows when, since that big ol’ snowstorm, so I’m sure they’re going to be excited to see their team again, so we’re excited for this challenge, it’s going to be fun.”