Mike White must remain the NY Jets starting QB despite Week 13 loss

The NY Jets fell just short against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13, losing by a final score of 27-22. It was a game of inches for Mike White and the Jets.

White was inches off on a number of passes including a potentially game-winning throw to Braxton Berrios. The Jets were inches away from knocking away a number of passes on defense.

Penalties and a failure to convert in the red zone ultimately cost the Jets, but one thing seems very clear. Mike White is the Jets' starting quarterback, and there's no reason why that should change any time in the foreseeable future.

White finished the game completing 31-of-57 passes for 369 yards and two interceptions. Those two turnovers came on a dropped pass that was tipped and the final play of the game where White had no choice but to force a pass.

White wasn't perfect, but he did more than enough to prove that he deserves the starting job moving forward, at least as far as this season is concerned.

Mike White has earned the NY Jets starting QB job for this season

White has played like a starting-caliber quarterback in each of the last two weeks, and that's likely an understatement. He put up better numbers against a lowly Chicago Bears defense than any quarterback has this year.

He followed that up with a 359-yard performance against the Vikings this past week. Again, was he perfect? Not at all. But White has given the Jets some of the best quarterback play they've received in years in each of the last two weeks.

The Jets may insist they want to see Zach Wilson play again this year. They may not want to keep their second-overall pick on the sideline. But they also likely won't have a choice.

This is a team that's squarely in the middle of a tightly-contested playoff race. It would be impossible to justify trotting Wilson or anyone else out there given how well White has played.

The Jets may not officially commit to starting White for the remainder of the season, but it feels like a formality at this point.

Mike White is the Jets' starting quarterback. He's earned it.