Post by Lithfan on Dec 21, 2015 11:31:49 GMT -5
December 21, 1997
As a date, December 21 has not been kind to the Jets throughout their history. Five games played on this date, and all five times, the Jets have been on the wrong side of the final score. Included in those 5 were two crushing defeats, one in 1997 against Detroit that eliminated the Jets from the playoffs. They also suffered another damaging loss 11 years later on this date when Brett Favre and the Jets lost in Seattle 13-3. That loss effectively ended their playoff hopes, while not mathematically eliminating them.
Back to 1997, as Bill Parcells and the 9-6 Jets traveled to Detroit to take on the 8-7 Lions in a game that effectively had the same impact as a playoff game. The winner would advance to the wild card playoffs the following week, and the loser would be on the outside looking in.
Things looked good for the Jets early, jumping out to a 10-0 first quarter lead thanks to a 32 yard John Hall field goal and a 14 yard TD run by Adrian Murrell. The Jets defense played well through 3 quarters, but two 3rd quarter interceptions allowed Detroit to stay close. Neil O’Donnell was intercepted by Mark Carrier on the Jets first possession of the 3rd quarter to set up a Lion FG that cut the Jets lead to 10-6. On their next possession, the Jets were driving when Ray Lucas threw a red zone interception which cost the Jets the chance to extend their lead.
In the 4th quarter, Barry Sanders took over. He had been held to just 23 yards until the final play of the 3rd quarter. Sanders ended the quarter with a 47 yard run on 3rd and 3 to get the Lions into the red zone. 4 plays later, Sanders ran one in from 15 yards out to give the Lions their first lead of the day.
The Jets had a chance to retake the lead midway through the 3rd quarter. Neil O’Donnell converted a 3rd and 8 from the Lions 42 with a 33-yard completion to Wayne Chrebet, giving the JEts first and gaol at the 9. Needing a FG to tie or a TD to take the lead, the JEts called a halfback pass. Leon Johnson’s pass intended for Jeff Graham was intercepted in the end zone by Bryant Westbrook.
Sanders rushed for over 110 yards in the 4th quarter alone as the Jets were never able to threaten again. The Lions went on to the playoffs with a 9-7 record.
“Barry, he’s unbelievable,” Jets safety Victor Green said. “We broke down on a couple of plays and he beat us. That’s been Barry though, the whole season. You can shut him down for a while, then he breaks one.”
Sanders would reach the 2,000 yard mark in that game, joining both Eric Dickerson and OJ SImpson as the only backs at the time to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. Sanders and SImpson both eclipsed the mark against the Jets
Video below includes highlights of that game -- focused mostly on Sanders.
As for the Jets, they finished 9-7, but out of the playoff picture. They missed out on the playoffs for the 6th consecutive season. They would make it the next year, of course, after adding Vinny Testaverde and going on to win their first Division Title. Ultimately falling short of the Super Bowl thanks to a mistake filled performance in a loss to Denver.
Source: The Daily Courier
As a date, December 21 has not been kind to the Jets throughout their history. Five games played on this date, and all five times, the Jets have been on the wrong side of the final score. Included in those 5 were two crushing defeats, one in 1997 against Detroit that eliminated the Jets from the playoffs. They also suffered another damaging loss 11 years later on this date when Brett Favre and the Jets lost in Seattle 13-3. That loss effectively ended their playoff hopes, while not mathematically eliminating them.
Back to 1997, as Bill Parcells and the 9-6 Jets traveled to Detroit to take on the 8-7 Lions in a game that effectively had the same impact as a playoff game. The winner would advance to the wild card playoffs the following week, and the loser would be on the outside looking in.
Things looked good for the Jets early, jumping out to a 10-0 first quarter lead thanks to a 32 yard John Hall field goal and a 14 yard TD run by Adrian Murrell. The Jets defense played well through 3 quarters, but two 3rd quarter interceptions allowed Detroit to stay close. Neil O’Donnell was intercepted by Mark Carrier on the Jets first possession of the 3rd quarter to set up a Lion FG that cut the Jets lead to 10-6. On their next possession, the Jets were driving when Ray Lucas threw a red zone interception which cost the Jets the chance to extend their lead.
In the 4th quarter, Barry Sanders took over. He had been held to just 23 yards until the final play of the 3rd quarter. Sanders ended the quarter with a 47 yard run on 3rd and 3 to get the Lions into the red zone. 4 plays later, Sanders ran one in from 15 yards out to give the Lions their first lead of the day.
The Jets had a chance to retake the lead midway through the 3rd quarter. Neil O’Donnell converted a 3rd and 8 from the Lions 42 with a 33-yard completion to Wayne Chrebet, giving the JEts first and gaol at the 9. Needing a FG to tie or a TD to take the lead, the JEts called a halfback pass. Leon Johnson’s pass intended for Jeff Graham was intercepted in the end zone by Bryant Westbrook.
Sanders rushed for over 110 yards in the 4th quarter alone as the Jets were never able to threaten again. The Lions went on to the playoffs with a 9-7 record.
“Barry, he’s unbelievable,” Jets safety Victor Green said. “We broke down on a couple of plays and he beat us. That’s been Barry though, the whole season. You can shut him down for a while, then he breaks one.”
Sanders would reach the 2,000 yard mark in that game, joining both Eric Dickerson and OJ SImpson as the only backs at the time to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. Sanders and SImpson both eclipsed the mark against the Jets
Video below includes highlights of that game -- focused mostly on Sanders.
As for the Jets, they finished 9-7, but out of the playoff picture. They missed out on the playoffs for the 6th consecutive season. They would make it the next year, of course, after adding Vinny Testaverde and going on to win their first Division Title. Ultimately falling short of the Super Bowl thanks to a mistake filled performance in a loss to Denver.
Source: The Daily Courier
