Nov 14 in Jet History: Namath Gets HIs First Win
Nov 14, 2015 9:13:04 GMT -5
thebigragu and Bing© in Buffalo Chairman like this
Post by Lithfan on Nov 14, 2015 9:13:04 GMT -5
November 14, 1965
Joe Namath, making is 4th professional start would pick up his first win as a member of the NY Jets. Namath had earned the starting job earlier in the season, taking over in week 2 for Mike Taliaferro, but he struggled in 3 straight losses. After a 5 for 21 performance in a game where the Jets tied the Raiders in week 4, Taliaferro was inserted as the starter again.
In a week 7 matchup against the Chiefs, Joe came off the bench to lead a 13-10 comeback win with a 3rd quarter TD pass to Don Maynard, which earned him the opportunity to start again, the following week against the Boston Patriots in Fenway Park.
The Jets and Namath started quickly, taking advantage Boston mistakes to take an early lead. Matt Snell scored the Jets first TD on a one yard run after a fumble recovery by Wahoo McDaniel. On the Patriots next drive, it was Verlon Biggs recovering another Patriot fumble, leading to a 16 yard Jim Turner FG and a 10-0 lead.
The Jets made it 3 fumble recoveries in the first quarter, when Biggs fell on another loose ball at the Patriots 22 yard line. It took Namath just one play to find Don Maynard for a 22 yard TD and an early 17-0 lead. It was the first of two Namath-Maynard TD passes on the day, as Joe finished 10-25 for 180 yards and the 2 TDs, with no interceptions. Maynard was on the receiving end of 6 of Namath’s 10 completions, amassing 122 yards.
After Boston closed to 17-3, Namath and the Jets took over at their own 20. The JEts needed only three plays to cover the 80 yards. They opened the drive with a 43 yard comletion to Maynard. Then after a short run by Snell, who carried 15 times for only 34 yards on the day, Namath hit Maynard once more for 36 yards and a 24-3 2nd quarter lead.
The Patriots fought back however, closing the gap to 24-17 before halftime on the strength of two Babe Parilli TD tosses, one came after a drive was extended when Parilli covered a fumble after his pass was intercepted.
The Jets played it safe most of the 2nd half, keeping the ball on the ground behind Snell and Bill Mathis, with Namath only throwing while necessary. They were able to take advantage of two more Parilli interceptions to add field goals and come away with a 30-20 win, Namath’s first W as a pro QB.
Namath, who had struggled against the blitz early in the season, felt more comfortable with it in this game, “The blitz didn’t bother me too much,” he said. “However I didn’t always read it right and couldn’t find the man I wanted to hit.”
Jets Head Coach Weeb Ewbank was impressed with his rookie, as was Pats coach Mike Holovak. “Joe did a great job," Ewbank would say. “It is the first time he has gone all the way and we’ve won. He adjusted well to some new Boston defenses. And the Patriots blitz helped the two touchdown passes as it left one-man coverage on Maynard.”
"Namath can really throw," said Holovak. “He fires the ball. However his two backs, Mathis and Matt Snell gave him some great protection."
Source: The Nashua NH Telegraph
Joe Namath, making is 4th professional start would pick up his first win as a member of the NY Jets. Namath had earned the starting job earlier in the season, taking over in week 2 for Mike Taliaferro, but he struggled in 3 straight losses. After a 5 for 21 performance in a game where the Jets tied the Raiders in week 4, Taliaferro was inserted as the starter again.
In a week 7 matchup against the Chiefs, Joe came off the bench to lead a 13-10 comeback win with a 3rd quarter TD pass to Don Maynard, which earned him the opportunity to start again, the following week against the Boston Patriots in Fenway Park.
The Jets and Namath started quickly, taking advantage Boston mistakes to take an early lead. Matt Snell scored the Jets first TD on a one yard run after a fumble recovery by Wahoo McDaniel. On the Patriots next drive, it was Verlon Biggs recovering another Patriot fumble, leading to a 16 yard Jim Turner FG and a 10-0 lead.
The Jets made it 3 fumble recoveries in the first quarter, when Biggs fell on another loose ball at the Patriots 22 yard line. It took Namath just one play to find Don Maynard for a 22 yard TD and an early 17-0 lead. It was the first of two Namath-Maynard TD passes on the day, as Joe finished 10-25 for 180 yards and the 2 TDs, with no interceptions. Maynard was on the receiving end of 6 of Namath’s 10 completions, amassing 122 yards.
After Boston closed to 17-3, Namath and the Jets took over at their own 20. The JEts needed only three plays to cover the 80 yards. They opened the drive with a 43 yard comletion to Maynard. Then after a short run by Snell, who carried 15 times for only 34 yards on the day, Namath hit Maynard once more for 36 yards and a 24-3 2nd quarter lead.
The Patriots fought back however, closing the gap to 24-17 before halftime on the strength of two Babe Parilli TD tosses, one came after a drive was extended when Parilli covered a fumble after his pass was intercepted.
The Jets played it safe most of the 2nd half, keeping the ball on the ground behind Snell and Bill Mathis, with Namath only throwing while necessary. They were able to take advantage of two more Parilli interceptions to add field goals and come away with a 30-20 win, Namath’s first W as a pro QB.
Namath, who had struggled against the blitz early in the season, felt more comfortable with it in this game, “The blitz didn’t bother me too much,” he said. “However I didn’t always read it right and couldn’t find the man I wanted to hit.”
Jets Head Coach Weeb Ewbank was impressed with his rookie, as was Pats coach Mike Holovak. “Joe did a great job," Ewbank would say. “It is the first time he has gone all the way and we’ve won. He adjusted well to some new Boston defenses. And the Patriots blitz helped the two touchdown passes as it left one-man coverage on Maynard.”
"Namath can really throw," said Holovak. “He fires the ball. However his two backs, Mathis and Matt Snell gave him some great protection."
Source: The Nashua NH Telegraph
