Article: Jets vs Giants - A Look Back: November 10, 1974

Jets vs Giants – A Look Back. November 10, 1974

The Jets and Giants have met 58 times, 46 in the preseason and 12 in the regular season. The Jets are 24-21 with 1 tie (in 1972) against the Giants in the preseason, but only 4-8 when the games count in the standings, and the Giants have won the last 5 regular season matchups.

In just over 24 hours they will meet for the 59th time in the battle for the Snoopy Trophy. More importantly, this is the 3rd preseason game, which is the final dress rehearsal for established starters before the regular season begins for both teams on September 13. While Harrier, our friend from across the pond, gave us a look forward to the game and to another season of Jets football, I am going to take a look back at one of the early matchups in the history of the crosstown rivalry.

The Jets would get their first regular season win against the Giants in a memorable matchup on November 10, 1974. It would be Joe Namath’s only regular season game against the G-men. He had missed the first game in 1970 due to injury, a 22-10 Giants victory. The Jets came in with a 1-7 record and a 6 game losing streak, while the Giants were not much better at 2-6. The game would prove that you do not need two winning teams to play a great, memorable game.

The game was tight and well played throughout as neither team had more than a one score lead. Namath and Giants QB Craig Morton played each other to a standoff – with virtually identical passing numbers. Namath was 20-31 for 236 yards with 2 TDs and no interceptions on the day. Morton hit on 21 of 32 passes for 237 yards. He also tossed 2 TD passes with no picks. The Giants would take a 20-13 lead on a 3rd quarter TD pass from Morton to Bob Grim.

While neither team was able to gain an advantage in the passing game, it was a memorable 3 yard run that would allow the Jets to force overtime. The Jets still trailed by 7 when they got the ball back with 8 minutes left in the game. From a publication at the time:

With eight minutes to go, the Giants led 20-13 when Namath guided his charges to the Giant 3. He called 34 Wham, a running play sending Emerson Boozer off-tackle and, hopefully, three yards into the end zone to tie the game. At the line, however, Namath saw something-- linebacker Brad Van Pelt planning to slide toward the middle. But Namath didn’t audible. He didn’t even hint to his own players that he planned a change. He just called for the ball and swung into action.

Namath's improvisation fooled everyone, down to Boozer. The Jets ran the play with such sincerity that the Giants were utterly fooled; Namath wobbled on a weak side bootleg toward the end zone.

At the last second Spider Lockhart and Eldridge Small reached striking distance—they could at least make Namath pay by slamming him to the ground. Namath had the gall, no, the balls, to raise one hand and waving off the defenders, warning them not to ruin his glorious moment. Astonishingly, both pulled up as Namath tied the game.



The Giants would have the first opportunity to win the game in OT. They drove to the Jets 25-yard line. On a 4th and 1 from the 25, Giants kicker Pete Gogolak would attempt a game winning 43-yard FG. Gogolak’s controversial miss would extend the game. Gogolak and many of his teammates thought the kick was good, but it was ruled wide. In his post-game comments, Gogolak insisted that the officials “took it away from me. It wasn’t even close. I got a good foot on the ball and it was a good foot inside the post when it went through. I know something about kicking and if I blow it, I take the blame. I didn’t blow this one.”

The Jets got the ball back, and Namath led them down the field. He hit Rich Caster for 42 yards to get into Giants territory. A 12 yard completion to Jerome Barkum would get them to Giants 21. After a couple of running plays the Jets were 5 yards from pay dirt.  Namath would hit Emerson Boozer for a 5 yard TD to win the game 26-20.

After the game, Namath described the bootleg play, “It was 34 wham off right tackle and the intended ball carrier was Boozer, but I was to take a look and decide if I could do it. That was the hard part. Running it was not tough and this is from a guy that can’t run across the street.”

The Namath to Boozer TD pass was the first points ever scored in a regular season NFL overtime period. The overtime rule had just gone into effect for the 1974 season. There had already been one overtime game played earlier that season, between the Steelers and the Broncos in week 2, but neither team would score in the OT and it ended in a 35-35 tie.

The Jets would go on to win their next 5 games of the season to finish 7-7. The Giants would lose their remaining 5 and finish 2-14.