Dec 11 in Jet History: Maynard Sets Record on Monday Night
Dec 11, 2015 6:39:34 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Dec 11, 2015 6:39:34 GMT -5
December 11, 1972
December 11, 1972 -- the Jets played the Raiders in Monday Night Football and Apollo 17 was on the moon. The video below begins with a clip of the moon landing and then highlights of the Monday Night broadcast.
The Jets came into the Monday Night contest with a 7-5 record and in control of their own destiny in their pursuit of the AFC wild card playoff berth. They trailed the 8-4 Cleveland Browns for the AFC’s only wild card spot, but would play the Browns in the last week of the season. So with a win over the Raiders, the playoffs would have been on the line the following week.
But it was not to be, as the Raiders topped the Jets 24-16, eliminating them from the playoff hunt. The Jets Hall of Famers, Joe Namath and Don Maynard, put up big numbers in the loss. Namath throwing for over 400 yards and Maynard with 7 receptions for 131. The last of those 7 receptions was the 632nd of Maynard’s NFL career, setting the all-time NFL reception record, passing Raymond Berry as the all-time leader. This would turn out to be Maynard's last game for the Jets, as he did not play the following week against Cleveland. In the offseason, he would be traded to the Cardinals. He retired after two games and one reception with St. Louis in 1973.
Maynard was not about to celebrate his accomplishment on a night the team was eliminated from the playoffs. “Nothing takes the place of winning,” he later said.
The Jets were able to move the ball successfully all night between the 20s. However their only TD came in the first quarter, a 49 yard pass from Namath to Rich Caster to give the Jets a 7-3 edge. All they could manage for the rest of the night was 4 Bobby Howfield field goal attempts (he made 3), and two Namath Interceptions deep in Oakland territory.
“He has these kind of games,” said Raider coach John Madden of Namath after the game. “He had good success against our zone. Then we used a three man rush and he had pretty good success against that too. Still, he didn’t put it in the end zone a lot.”
For the Raiders, it was a balanced attack, led by QB Daryle Lamonica, who threw for 202 yards and two TDs. Marv Hubbard added 118 yards on the ground as the Raiders outrushed the Jets 169 to 36. Oakland put the game away in the 4th quarter. After a Howfield FG cut the Raider lead to 17-16, the Jets defense needed a stop on 3rd and 1 at the Raiders 31 with 9:35 left on the clock. Lamonica went play action and the Jets bit “completely and amateurishly” (in Howard Cosell’s words) on the fake. TE Raymond Chester came wide open behind the Jets secondary and Lamonica hit him for 69 yards and the TD.
The game was not without controversy, however. Later in the 4th quarter, Namath underthrew Eddie Bell in the end zone. The pass picked off by Jack Tatum who returned it 57 yards. As Tatum was tackled, the ball came loose and was recovered by the Jets. One referee signaled Jets ball and another signaled Raiders ball. Ultimately the Raiders kept the ball and coasted to the 24-16 win.
December 11, 1972 -- the Jets played the Raiders in Monday Night Football and Apollo 17 was on the moon. The video below begins with a clip of the moon landing and then highlights of the Monday Night broadcast.
The Jets came into the Monday Night contest with a 7-5 record and in control of their own destiny in their pursuit of the AFC wild card playoff berth. They trailed the 8-4 Cleveland Browns for the AFC’s only wild card spot, but would play the Browns in the last week of the season. So with a win over the Raiders, the playoffs would have been on the line the following week.
But it was not to be, as the Raiders topped the Jets 24-16, eliminating them from the playoff hunt. The Jets Hall of Famers, Joe Namath and Don Maynard, put up big numbers in the loss. Namath throwing for over 400 yards and Maynard with 7 receptions for 131. The last of those 7 receptions was the 632nd of Maynard’s NFL career, setting the all-time NFL reception record, passing Raymond Berry as the all-time leader. This would turn out to be Maynard's last game for the Jets, as he did not play the following week against Cleveland. In the offseason, he would be traded to the Cardinals. He retired after two games and one reception with St. Louis in 1973.
Maynard was not about to celebrate his accomplishment on a night the team was eliminated from the playoffs. “Nothing takes the place of winning,” he later said.
The Jets were able to move the ball successfully all night between the 20s. However their only TD came in the first quarter, a 49 yard pass from Namath to Rich Caster to give the Jets a 7-3 edge. All they could manage for the rest of the night was 4 Bobby Howfield field goal attempts (he made 3), and two Namath Interceptions deep in Oakland territory.
“He has these kind of games,” said Raider coach John Madden of Namath after the game. “He had good success against our zone. Then we used a three man rush and he had pretty good success against that too. Still, he didn’t put it in the end zone a lot.”
For the Raiders, it was a balanced attack, led by QB Daryle Lamonica, who threw for 202 yards and two TDs. Marv Hubbard added 118 yards on the ground as the Raiders outrushed the Jets 169 to 36. Oakland put the game away in the 4th quarter. After a Howfield FG cut the Raider lead to 17-16, the Jets defense needed a stop on 3rd and 1 at the Raiders 31 with 9:35 left on the clock. Lamonica went play action and the Jets bit “completely and amateurishly” (in Howard Cosell’s words) on the fake. TE Raymond Chester came wide open behind the Jets secondary and Lamonica hit him for 69 yards and the TD.
The game was not without controversy, however. Later in the 4th quarter, Namath underthrew Eddie Bell in the end zone. The pass picked off by Jack Tatum who returned it 57 yards. As Tatum was tackled, the ball came loose and was recovered by the Jets. One referee signaled Jets ball and another signaled Raiders ball. Ultimately the Raiders kept the ball and coasted to the 24-16 win.