11/6 in Jets History: Chrebet's Last Game
Nov 6, 2015 6:35:37 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Nov 6, 2015 6:35:37 GMT -5
November 6, 2005
In January 2005, the Jets travelled to San Diego to take on the Chargers in a Wild Card playoff game. The Jets pulled off a dramatic upset of the 6 ½ point favorite Chargers in overtime by a score of 20-17. The Jets played well in SD, but also got a bit of luck in that game when SD kicker Nate Kaeding missed a potential overtime game winning FG. The following week, the Jets fortunes would change dramatically during a loss in the Divisional Round in Pittsburgh.
The bad luck seemed to carry over into the 2005 season. The Jets would host a rematch with the Chargers on November 6 having won just twice in the 10 months since that playoff game in San Diego. And the wait for another win would extend beyond this Sunday as well. Adding insult to injury, or more appropriately in this case, adding injury to insult, the career of Jets fan favorite Wayne Chrebet came to an end on this Sunday afternoon when his head struck the turf while making a 4th quarter reception. For Chrebet, it was the 13th concussion of his pro/college career and it would ultimately end his NFL career.
The jets fell behind early, but made a furious comeback attempt that ultimately fell 3 yards short when Brooks Bollinger’s pass intended for Justin McCareins was batted away by Quentin Jammer in the end zone with less than 1 minute left on the clock. Bollinger was on in relief of 42-year old Vinny Testaverde who was replaced after straining his calf in the 3rd quarter.
It certainly did not look like it was going be a nail biter in the early going. The Chargers scored on their first possession, a 4 yd TD run by Ladainian Tomlinson, to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Drew Brees hit Tomlinson for a 25-yard score on the Chargers next possession to open up a 14-0 lead. It was a big day for Tomlinson who would finish the day with over 150 combined rushing/receiving yards and 4 TDs. It was the first of five 4 TD games in Tomlinson’s career.
The Jets closed the gap in the 2nd quarter on Curtis Martin’s 1 yard run to cut the lead to 7. For Martin, it was the 100th TD of his career -- making him the 16th player to score 100 NFL TDs. The Jets got as close as 21-13 after a couple of MIke Nugent field goals, but the Chargers would extend their lead in the 3rd quarter on Tomlinson’s 3rd TD run of the game, this one from 1 yard out.
The Jets comeback attempt began on their next possession when Bollinger hit Jerald Sowell for 5 yards to pull the Jets within 8 at 28-20. The Jets defense came up big on a goal line stand on the next drive, forcing a Kaeding FG after stuffing Lorenzo Neal on 3rd and goal from the 1.
The Jets got into the red zone on the following possession after Bollinger converted a 3rd and 18 with a 20 yard completion to Chrebet down to the SD 8. Bollinger hit Laveranues Coles on the next play for the TD. After a 2 point conversion failed, the Jets were within 5 at 31-26 with 6 minutes left.
The Jets would get the ball back at the SD 30 with 3 minutes left and a chance to win the game after a John Abraham strip-sack of Drew Brees was recovered by Jonathon Vilma. With 2 minutes left, and a 3rd and 5 from the Chargers 15, Bollinger hit Chrebet at the 9-yard line near the Charger sideline. As Chrebet took a hit from Jerry Wilson, his head bounced hard off the turf. Naturally, Chrebet held on for the first down. They would get as close as the SD 3 yard line before losing 31-26.
Several of Chrebet’s Jet teammates expressed their concern after seeing the hit.
"I have a lot of concern that he'll be OK," Testaverde said. "It's hard to see not only a teammate but a very close friend get hurt the way he has."
"I was real worried," said WR Jerricho Cotchery.. "I didn't hear a sound and I didn't see any movement. When you see him on the ground and you don't see any movement, you get a real bad feeling for him."
Chrebet would never play another down for the Jets. He finished his career 2nd only to Don Maynard on the Jets all time reception list with 580 catches, and 3rd behind Maynard and Walker in receiving yards and TDs. Not bad for a walk-on from Hofstra.
Source: ESPN.com & USA Today
In January 2005, the Jets travelled to San Diego to take on the Chargers in a Wild Card playoff game. The Jets pulled off a dramatic upset of the 6 ½ point favorite Chargers in overtime by a score of 20-17. The Jets played well in SD, but also got a bit of luck in that game when SD kicker Nate Kaeding missed a potential overtime game winning FG. The following week, the Jets fortunes would change dramatically during a loss in the Divisional Round in Pittsburgh.
The bad luck seemed to carry over into the 2005 season. The Jets would host a rematch with the Chargers on November 6 having won just twice in the 10 months since that playoff game in San Diego. And the wait for another win would extend beyond this Sunday as well. Adding insult to injury, or more appropriately in this case, adding injury to insult, the career of Jets fan favorite Wayne Chrebet came to an end on this Sunday afternoon when his head struck the turf while making a 4th quarter reception. For Chrebet, it was the 13th concussion of his pro/college career and it would ultimately end his NFL career.
The jets fell behind early, but made a furious comeback attempt that ultimately fell 3 yards short when Brooks Bollinger’s pass intended for Justin McCareins was batted away by Quentin Jammer in the end zone with less than 1 minute left on the clock. Bollinger was on in relief of 42-year old Vinny Testaverde who was replaced after straining his calf in the 3rd quarter.
It certainly did not look like it was going be a nail biter in the early going. The Chargers scored on their first possession, a 4 yd TD run by Ladainian Tomlinson, to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Drew Brees hit Tomlinson for a 25-yard score on the Chargers next possession to open up a 14-0 lead. It was a big day for Tomlinson who would finish the day with over 150 combined rushing/receiving yards and 4 TDs. It was the first of five 4 TD games in Tomlinson’s career.
The Jets closed the gap in the 2nd quarter on Curtis Martin’s 1 yard run to cut the lead to 7. For Martin, it was the 100th TD of his career -- making him the 16th player to score 100 NFL TDs. The Jets got as close as 21-13 after a couple of MIke Nugent field goals, but the Chargers would extend their lead in the 3rd quarter on Tomlinson’s 3rd TD run of the game, this one from 1 yard out.
The Jets comeback attempt began on their next possession when Bollinger hit Jerald Sowell for 5 yards to pull the Jets within 8 at 28-20. The Jets defense came up big on a goal line stand on the next drive, forcing a Kaeding FG after stuffing Lorenzo Neal on 3rd and goal from the 1.
The Jets got into the red zone on the following possession after Bollinger converted a 3rd and 18 with a 20 yard completion to Chrebet down to the SD 8. Bollinger hit Laveranues Coles on the next play for the TD. After a 2 point conversion failed, the Jets were within 5 at 31-26 with 6 minutes left.
The Jets would get the ball back at the SD 30 with 3 minutes left and a chance to win the game after a John Abraham strip-sack of Drew Brees was recovered by Jonathon Vilma. With 2 minutes left, and a 3rd and 5 from the Chargers 15, Bollinger hit Chrebet at the 9-yard line near the Charger sideline. As Chrebet took a hit from Jerry Wilson, his head bounced hard off the turf. Naturally, Chrebet held on for the first down. They would get as close as the SD 3 yard line before losing 31-26.
Several of Chrebet’s Jet teammates expressed their concern after seeing the hit.
"I have a lot of concern that he'll be OK," Testaverde said. "It's hard to see not only a teammate but a very close friend get hurt the way he has."
"I was real worried," said WR Jerricho Cotchery.. "I didn't hear a sound and I didn't see any movement. When you see him on the ground and you don't see any movement, you get a real bad feeling for him."
Chrebet would never play another down for the Jets. He finished his career 2nd only to Don Maynard on the Jets all time reception list with 580 catches, and 3rd behind Maynard and Walker in receiving yards and TDs. Not bad for a walk-on from Hofstra.
Source: ESPN.com & USA Today
