What A Night for Whitehead! Jets' Safety Snags Three Picks

Jordan Whitehead makes Monday night miserable for Josh Allen and Bills

It was quite the start to Jordan Whitehead's second season in the New York Jets' secondary.

The veteran strong safety surpassed his 2022 interception total in one night's worth of work. As part of a dominant defensive effort, Whitehead keyed a 22-16 win over the Buffalo Bills by picking off three passes from quarterback Josh Allen.

"He was outstanding. He’s been outstanding," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh.

Whitehead, who snagged two picks over 17 starts last year, intercepted Allen in the second, third and fourth quarters of the Monday Night Football season opener at MetLife Stadium.

"I’m just going to keep working every week," said Whitehead after the emotional overtime victory. "I like to manifest but something like this, you got to talk about it. You got to talk about during the week, believe that you’re going to do it. That’s where it comes from."

The Jets, who were playing without Aaron Rodgers after a first-quarter injury ended the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback's night, scored 10 points off Whitehead's three takeaways.

The first interception came fewer than two minutes into the second quarter with Allen launching a deep ball that was intended for Deonte Harty in double coverage. Whitehead hauled in the overthrow at the Jets' 4-yard line. Running back Breece Hall flipped the field on the next snap, flying 83 yards into the redzone and setting up a field goal by Greg Zuerlein.

Whitehead's second takeaway halted the Bills' first drive of the second half. Leading, 13-6, Buffalo was operating in a 2nd-and-13 situation from the Jets' 41-yard line. With defensive tackle Quinnen Williams applying pressure, Allen unleashed an ill-advised throw deep over the middle in the direction of Stefon Diggs. Whithead, however, pulled it down as he fell into the endzone.

The strong safety's third pick set the stage for the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. He intercepted a sideline throw that was intended for Gabe Davis at the Jets' 43 with 9:43 remaining in regulation.

Jets' safety Jordan Whitehead (3) makes his third interception of the game :: © Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

Whitehead, who signed a free-agent deal with Gang Green in 2022, is coming off a season of missed opportunities. He was charged with dropping four potential interceptions last fall.

"He was four dropped interceptions away from having an All-Pro year last year. He caught them all today and he’s going to catch a hell of a lot more," said Saleh after the Jets' defense limited to a paltry 4.7 yards per pass in the Week 1 matchup.

Saleh addressed the traits that allowed for Whitehead to perform so effectively right out of the gates.

"He’s got great instincts in the back end. He has great instincts in the box," said Saleh. "His range is better this year, believe it or not. His ability to get from red line to red line. Our confidence in him, he’s an outstanding safety."

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