MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mike White and the New York Jets coaching staff won’t need to take long to dissect what went wrong in Sunday’s 27-22 loss at Minnesota.
For White, who had his second 300-yard passing game in as many weeks as New York’s starting quarterback, the answer is obvious. The Jets scored one touchdown on six trips inside the Vikings 20-yard line. New York was 1 of 3 scoring touchdowns in goal-to-go situations.
“I think for the most part, when you lose a game, you do have a sense of what the reasoning was,” White said after the Jets’ comeback fell short. “Today was just glaring. … It starts with me. Got to figure out a way to get in there. I don’t know what it is. I’ll watch the tape, get with our coaches and learn from it and correct it.”
White and coach Robert Saleh credited the team’s determination in overcoming a 20-3 halftime deficit. But the second-half rally fell short when White’s throw to the goal line with 16 seconds left was intercepted by Camryn Bynum.
It was another instance of being stopped by the Vikings in the red zone.
“I just know that they were running double-end cuts to the field every single time,” Bynum said. “A lot of the big plays they got was that route, in-breaking from No. 1. That’s a tough route for the corner, especially for his outside leverage, so I just shuffled in with the quarterback’s eyes and as soon as he came off of No. 2, jumped into window No. 1 and that was the play.”
For White, who was 31 of 57 for 369 yards passing with no TDs and two INTs, it was the only spot he had left because of Minnesota’s coverage. So, he tried to thread the ball to Corey Davis when Bynum stepped in front for the game-sealing interception.
White has provided a boost to New York’s stagnant passing game since replacing Zach Wilson. After making adjustments, the Jets had 336 yards in the second half. But while they scored on five straight possessions at one point, four were field goals against a defense that is allowing touchdowns on 64.5% of trips within the 20, ranking 26th in the NFL.
In goal-to-go scenarios, the Vikings have allowed the opponent to reach the end zone 81.3% of the time, which is 27th in the league.
“Can’t win the game just kicking field goals,” Saleh said.
New York Jets quarterback Mike White (5) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
