1968 New York Jets
The 1968 New York Jets may be the most storied pro football team in history. Their meteoric rise in the Big Apple and victory in the first Super Bowl ever ( later called Super Bowl III ) made an entire league, the AFL, legit and pushed professional football into a new, modern era. Key figures include team president Sonny Werblin, the show-business magnate who saw the value of television before any other pro football owner, coach Weeb Ewbank, whose eye for talent stocked a contender in just four years from a 3-10 start, Joe Namath, the legendary passer who took all the punches and still confidently scared defenses silly, Matt Snell, the Ohio Stater who could have played a number of positions, but agreed to be the first Jets fullback star, Winston Hill, the first great pass-blocking left tackle, Verlon Biggs, the monster defensive end who had the team growing beards, and Larry Grantham, the 210-pound linebacker-leader who led a very underrated defense. Chuck Knox, Clive Rush, Walt Michaels and Buddy Ryan were the coaching assistants. The team's remarkable success that year included just three losses: two to inferior opponents with an injured Namath, and one to Oakland after star safety Jim Hudson was controversially thrown out of the game. Fact is, this Jets team could easily have been 14-0, plus the playoffs and the first Super Bowl win. Their place in history is permanent. They will still be talking about these Jets in 2069.
[edit] The Offseason
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The Jets were coming off a season in which Joe Namath, the game's most feared passer had passed for a record 4007 yards in 14 AFL games. Namath had to do this because both starting running backs, Matt Snell and Emerson Boozer, had been injured. Boozer started the year in incredible form before a knee injury against Kansas City. The young Jets defense was still coming together, with coach Ewbanks and manager George Sauer Sr. doing a great job of reviewing potential personnel.
[edit] Preseason Predictions
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The Jets were a major draw and fan favorite because of Namath and their high-flying offense. But most still rated them behind Oakland and Kansas City. Most AFL observers were hoping for a 1968 playoff appearance to give the league better publicity.
[edit] Regular-Season Highlights
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Few realize how close the Jets came to a 14-0 season. Two early losses against weak opponents came about with Joe Namath on the wagon. That's right, he wasn't drinking. When he resumed while also elevating his game and commitment, the Jets starting stacking wins. The third loss of the year, to Oakland, only occurred because Jets safety Jim Hudson had been incorrectly thrown out of the game. Oakland owner Al Davis had hired some of the refs in that game when he had previously and briefly been AFL Commissioner.
[edit] Week 1
New York opened with three straight road games, starting in tough Kansas City on national televsion, with TV guru Sonny Werblin active behind the NBC scenes. Namath led the Jets in the 4th Quarter to seal a key 20-19 win.
[edit] Week 2
Urged to give up drinking, a Namath pain and pressure necessity, by roommate and friend Jim Hudson, the result was this turnover-filled win at Fenway Park to the Boston Patriots. Interceptions were run back on Namath throws, but some had been tipped. Timing was off all day and the Jets gave up a whopping 31 points. It was a case of Namath feeling he could win it all by himself. He threw six TDs that day, but only four were to the Jets.
[edit] Week 3
Trying to bounce back from the Boston game, Namath attacked and forced throws against the Bills. Clearly the better team, the Jets came back time and again, but Namath mistakes again made the difference in a 37-35 loss.
[edit] Week 4
Facing a brutal press during the week, Namath still stayed sober this week. Namath still committed turnovers in this passer's duel, but did just enough to hold on to a 23-20 win over the San Diego Chargers. The defense, led by coaches Buddy Ryan and Walt Michaels, also was stepping up.
[edit] Week 5
Jets turnovers were the key in this one, with Joe Namath playing another game on the wagon. The 21-13 score was proof that Denver had not won the game as much as Namath had thrown it away. Namath was booed mercilessly by the home Shea Stadium crowd.
[edit] Week 6
Aching from the Denver game, Namath faced what some viewed as the pivotal game of the year for the 3-2 Jets. Namath may have felt his entire career was on the line. Against the tough Houston Oilers on the tougher Astroturf, Namath carefully crafted a 20-14 gem by letting Matt Snell and Emerson Boozer win it for him. Namath playcalling kept the Oiler defense off-balance while controlling time-of-possession.
[edit] Week 7
The Boston Patriots were a weak team this year and the Jets routed them for another huge win 48-14. Amazingly, Namath had no TD passes in this one as Snell and Boozer again ran to lead the win. The defense used by Michaels and Ryan kept Boston from passing to mount a comeback.
[edit] Week 8
The Jets made it three in a row over tough Buffalo. Again, Namath was without a TD pass as the backs and defense got it done while the Jets again won the time-of-possession battle. Linebackers Al Atkinson, Ralph Baker and Larry Grantham stood out once again.
[edit] Week 9
With the Houston Oilers poised to stuff the Jets run game, Namath returned to the air to lead a 26-7 win. Play action passing was a key tactic, with Namath throwing short to TE Pete Lammons. He hit George Sauer on the longest square-outs in the league, thanks to tight pass blocking coached by line boss Chuck Knox. The defense was also stellar once again in all areas. Some thought the Jets now had the best D in the AFL.
[edit] Week 10
With a four-game winning streak, the Jets faced arch-rival Oakland in what would be come arguably the most famous regular-season game in pro football history - The Heidi Bowl. On national television, the Jets appeared to have it hand with two minutes left, 32-29. At this point, NBC switched to the well-promoted movie ' Heidi ', leaving the game. The game had been rife with penalties and fights, with the dirty Raiders heaping punishment and the Jets retaliating. A Jet end zone fumble got the Raiders the go-ahead score. Then, a deep pass made possible by the absence of safety Jim Hudson cemented the Raider win. The Jets fumed at the officiating, while national viewers lit the switchboard up at NBC with complaints. This game changed sports television forever, just as Werblin and Namath had been doing all along.
[edit] Week 11
Motivated by their key late-season loss, the Jets stormed sunny San Diego after Thanksgiving and routed the Chargers 37-15. It was a total team win that had an inspired group taking the Raider game out on poor San Diego. Before the game, DE Verlon Biggs announced he was not shaving until the Jets made the playoffs. The team united behind him by doing the same.
[edit] Week 12
Miami was a welcome sight on the schedule, and the beard-growing Jets, opening defying league rules on facial hair, routed the Dolphins 35-17.
[edit] Week 13
The Jets got another easy one, facing expansion Cincinnati in their Cleveland Brown colors at home. New York routed them easily 37-14. It was the team's second straight easy win.
[edit] Week 14
[edit] Week 15
[edit] Week 16
[edit] Week 17
[edit] The Playoffs
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[edit] Player Data
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[edit] Salaries
[edit] Uniform Numbers
[edit] Trivia
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