NY Jets: 3 reasons why Joe Flacco is starting on Sunday

The NY Jets have made the decision to give veteran Joe Flacco the start at quarterback this Sunday when the Jets take on the Miami Dolphins.

On the surface, many seem to be confused by this decision. At 36-years-old, Flacco obviously won't be a part of the future of the organization. Some feel the Jets would be better off sticking with Mike White.

After all, White was the talk of the NFL world just 10 days ago and seemed like a surefire bet to start until Zach Wilson was ready to return. There was even some talk about White remaining the starter once Wilson was healthy.

But the NFL is an ever-changing landscape. One minute you're the hero, the next you're backing up Joe Flacco. This is the world that Mike White currently lives in.

It might seem unfair to some, but the Jets have their reasons. And no, despite what some might insist, this decision isn't about justifying the Flacco trade.

The Jets aren't going to die on that hill. General manager Joe Douglas isn't looking to prove himself to the media or the fans. The trade is a sunk cost at this point.

There is a very legitimate argument in favor of starting White this Sunday. This article isn't intended to be a personal opinion piece. Rather, it will help to explain the logic behind the Jets' decision.

Why are the Jets starting Joe Flacco in Week 11? Let's take a look at a few reasons.

3. The NY Jets don't want to rush Zach Wilson

Zach Wilson is the Jets' top priority right now. The Jets want to do everything they can to put their rookie quarterback in the best position to succeed.

That includes his own personal health, which might be the most important aspect of all of this. If Wilson is not 100 percent healed from his injury, he isn't going to play.

And that's the way it should be.

Wilson injured his knee back in Week 7 against the New England Patriots. The initial timetable for his return was set at 2-4, and this upcoming Sunday will be the four-week mark.

The Jets ideally would have hoped to see Wilson return sooner, but they are willing to wait it out until he's fully healed. The No. 2 overall pick was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice which is further proof that he's not fully recovered yet.

The Jets have absolutely no reason to rush Wilson back into the lineup. On top of the health benefit, Wilson will also be given the opportunity to sit and watch for another week.

Given Wilson's up-and-down start to the season, the extra time off might prove to be beneficial.

The Jets are making decisions with Zach Wilson in mind. Developing him remains their top priority.

2. Joe Flacco allows the NY Jets to evaluate their young players on offense

Once again, I'd like to make something clear. This is not my own personal opinion, it's the Jets' rationale.

The Jets believe that Joe Flacco gives them the best opportunity to both develop and evaluate the young players on their offense. That remains one of the biggest reasons why he's starting on Sunday.

On top of winning football games (more on that in a moment), the Jets' primary goal this season is to develop the young talent on their roster.

When it comes to the offense, the two skill players that immediately spring to mind are running back Michael Carter and wide receiver Elijah Moore.

Both Carter and Moore have found plenty of success with White at quarterback, but against a blitz-heavy Miami Dolphins defense, the Jets believe that Flacco gives them the best opportunity to evaluate players like Carter and Moore.

And there is some sense to that. White struggled mightily against the blitz last week and was virtually shut down with his check-downs taken away. The Dolphins took a similar approach against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens the prior week.

The Jets want a quarterback who can push the ball downfield, and that's where Flacco comes in. They want a quarterback who will competently run their offense in Week 11 and allow them to get an extended look at their young, budding playmakers.

They believe Joe Flacco is the best option.

1. Joe Flacco gives the NY Jets the best chance to win

This rationale takes precedent over all others. Despite what many fans might prefer, the Jets' No. 1 goal right now is to win football games.

They don't care about developing Mike White as their backup quarterback. They don't care about going with the more "fun" option. They don't care about draft position.

Their goal is to start the quarterback who they believe gives them the best chance to win on Sunday. In their minds, that quarterback is Joe Flacco.

Flacco played sparingly last week in relief of Mike White and looked competent in limited action, completing 3-of-3 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Despite what many seem to believe, Joe Flacco is a competent quarterback. Remember, this is a guy who was statistically the best quarterback on the Jets last season.

Is he a starting-caliber player at this stage? Probably not, but he's more than capable of coming in, executing an offensive game plan, and not imploding.

Mike White imploded against the Buffalo Bills. Yes, the Bills have arguably the NFL's best defense, so it's hard to hold it against him too much. But the Dolphins present a mismatch for White's game, as has already been established.

The Jets have one goal on Sunday: to win. They believe Joe Flacco gives them the best opportunity to do so.

That, more than anything else, is why he's starting against the Dolphins.