Post by Lithfan on Nov 23, 2015 10:03:14 GMT -5
November 23, 1980
The 2-9 Jets were a heavy underdog at home as they prepared to take on the Houston Oilers. The first place Oilers were led by Ken Stabler, Dave Casper and Earl Campbell, and were coming into Shea Stadium with a 5 game win streak and an 8-3 record.
The Jets did a good job against the Oilers 3 future Hall of Famers, holding Campbell to just 60 yards on 15 carries, breaking a streak of 6 consecutive 100 yard games which included 3 where he was over 200. Dave Casper was held to just one reception for 8 yards. The Jets would see both the best and the worst of Ken Stabler on this day.
Stabler threw his first of four interception in the first quarter. With about 8 minutes gone in the quarter, Stabler tried to hit Casper, but Ken Schroy jumped the route and went 82 yards down the sideline to give the Jets and early 7-0 lead.
Another Oiler mistake led to the Jets 2nd score as Houston’s Carol Roaches fumbled a Chuck Ramsey punt. QB Richard Todd finished the 5 minute drive with a 1 yard TD run for a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter. It was an up and down game for Todd who finished 13-26 for 236 yards with 1 TD and 2 Ints.
The Jets took advantage of another interception of a Stabler to Casper attempt, this time it was linebacker Ron Crosby, who took it back to the Oilers one yard line. 2 plays later, Kevin Long took it in from one yard out and the Jets had an unlikely 21-0 lead at the half.
The 3rd quarter was quiet, as the Jets tried unsuccessfully to establish the run, and Oiler mistake prevented them from mounting a comeback. Until the 4th quarter that is.
Stabler got hot in the 4th and shredded the Jets defense. He finished the game with 33 of 51 passing for 388 yards and 4 4th quarter TDs to go with 4 interceptions. The 388 yards passing was the most in a single game in Stabler’s career.
With just over a minute gone in the 4th quarter, the Snake hit Mike Barber for 6-yards and a score. 21-7. On the next possession, he hit Billy Johnson, also from 6 yards out. 21-14. With under 6 minutes left, ex-Jet Rich Caster got in on the act. Caster had been a consistent deep threat for the Jets throughout the first 8 years of his career, and he burned them deep on a 68 yard TD bomb to tie the score at 21.
Finally, the Jets got their offense in gear, going 66 yards in just 3 plays to retake the lead. Todd hit Bruce Harper for 45 yards and a score, giving the Jets a 28-21 lead with just over 4 minutes left. But it was too much time to leave on the clock for Houston. Stabler led his fourth 4th quarter TD drive, hooking up with Caster again, this time from the 5 yard line to tie the game.
Todd moved the Jets into field goal range in the final minute, giving Pat Leahy a chance to win the game for the Jets, but he missed a 36 yard game winner with 2 seconds on the clock and the game went to overtime. Leahy would get one more chance in overtime, as the Jets took the ball first and drove it into Houston territory. This time Leahy drilled one through the uprights from 38 yards for the win.
“All I could think of was ‘Let’s go out there and give him a seocnd chance,’” Jets head coach Walt Michaels said of Leahy.
“Yes sir, I was hoping for another chance,” said Leahy after the game. “I just told myself to relax and aim at the ball. Sure I was under great pressure, but all field goal kickers are under great pressure every time out.”
The 28 point 4th quarter is the most points the Jets have ever allowed in a 4th quarter, yet they still managed to win. They have given up 28 in the 4th one other time, on 12/13/86 in a 45-24 loss to Pittsburgh. The OT win was the second ever for the Jets, who had beaten the Giants in OT in 1974, 26-20, before losing 4 straight that went to extra time.
Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal & Lakeland Ledger
The 2-9 Jets were a heavy underdog at home as they prepared to take on the Houston Oilers. The first place Oilers were led by Ken Stabler, Dave Casper and Earl Campbell, and were coming into Shea Stadium with a 5 game win streak and an 8-3 record.
The Jets did a good job against the Oilers 3 future Hall of Famers, holding Campbell to just 60 yards on 15 carries, breaking a streak of 6 consecutive 100 yard games which included 3 where he was over 200. Dave Casper was held to just one reception for 8 yards. The Jets would see both the best and the worst of Ken Stabler on this day.
Stabler threw his first of four interception in the first quarter. With about 8 minutes gone in the quarter, Stabler tried to hit Casper, but Ken Schroy jumped the route and went 82 yards down the sideline to give the Jets and early 7-0 lead.
Another Oiler mistake led to the Jets 2nd score as Houston’s Carol Roaches fumbled a Chuck Ramsey punt. QB Richard Todd finished the 5 minute drive with a 1 yard TD run for a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter. It was an up and down game for Todd who finished 13-26 for 236 yards with 1 TD and 2 Ints.
The Jets took advantage of another interception of a Stabler to Casper attempt, this time it was linebacker Ron Crosby, who took it back to the Oilers one yard line. 2 plays later, Kevin Long took it in from one yard out and the Jets had an unlikely 21-0 lead at the half.
The 3rd quarter was quiet, as the Jets tried unsuccessfully to establish the run, and Oiler mistake prevented them from mounting a comeback. Until the 4th quarter that is.
Stabler got hot in the 4th and shredded the Jets defense. He finished the game with 33 of 51 passing for 388 yards and 4 4th quarter TDs to go with 4 interceptions. The 388 yards passing was the most in a single game in Stabler’s career.
With just over a minute gone in the 4th quarter, the Snake hit Mike Barber for 6-yards and a score. 21-7. On the next possession, he hit Billy Johnson, also from 6 yards out. 21-14. With under 6 minutes left, ex-Jet Rich Caster got in on the act. Caster had been a consistent deep threat for the Jets throughout the first 8 years of his career, and he burned them deep on a 68 yard TD bomb to tie the score at 21.
Finally, the Jets got their offense in gear, going 66 yards in just 3 plays to retake the lead. Todd hit Bruce Harper for 45 yards and a score, giving the Jets a 28-21 lead with just over 4 minutes left. But it was too much time to leave on the clock for Houston. Stabler led his fourth 4th quarter TD drive, hooking up with Caster again, this time from the 5 yard line to tie the game.
Todd moved the Jets into field goal range in the final minute, giving Pat Leahy a chance to win the game for the Jets, but he missed a 36 yard game winner with 2 seconds on the clock and the game went to overtime. Leahy would get one more chance in overtime, as the Jets took the ball first and drove it into Houston territory. This time Leahy drilled one through the uprights from 38 yards for the win.
“All I could think of was ‘Let’s go out there and give him a seocnd chance,’” Jets head coach Walt Michaels said of Leahy.
“Yes sir, I was hoping for another chance,” said Leahy after the game. “I just told myself to relax and aim at the ball. Sure I was under great pressure, but all field goal kickers are under great pressure every time out.”
The 28 point 4th quarter is the most points the Jets have ever allowed in a 4th quarter, yet they still managed to win. They have given up 28 in the 4th one other time, on 12/13/86 in a 45-24 loss to Pittsburgh. The OT win was the second ever for the Jets, who had beaten the Giants in OT in 1974, 26-20, before losing 4 straight that went to extra time.
Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal & Lakeland Ledger
