Post by Lithfan on Dec 28, 2015 10:35:50 GMT -5
December 28, 1986
Just over a month earlier, the Jets were 10-1 and owners of the best record in the NFL. Thoughts aof a bye, home field advantage and a run to the Super Bowl were in the minds of their fans. Then, they lost 5 straight, all by at least two touchdowns while giving up an average of nearly 40 points per game. But the Jets still managed to limp into the playoffs at 10-6 as a wild card. On Dec 28, they hosted the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card playoff game.
During the 5-game losing streak, QB Ken O’Brien threw just 2 TD passes, but 12 interceptions. On Monday, after the regular season ended, head coach Joe Walton announced that he would stick with O’Brien for the playoffs, but on Tuesday, he changed his mind, announcing that back-up Pat Ryan would get the start.
Ryan struggled on the Jets opening drive, getting two passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage as the Jets were forced to punt. The Chiefs scored on their opening possession behind back-up QB, Todd Blackledge. Starter Bill Kenney was out with an injury to his hand. Blackledge led an opening 67 yard scoring drive that culminated in Jeff Smith’s 1 yard TD run. It would be the only offensive score that the Chiefs would manage all day.
Behind 6-0, after Nick Lowery missed an extra point, the Jets converted a 4th and 6 at the Chiefs 33 yard line rather than attempt a 50+ yard field goal. On the play, Ryan faked a pitchout to Freeman McNeil and went around end for 24 yards and a first and goal at the 9. 2 plays later, McNeil carried it in from 1 yard out to tie the game. Pat Leahy’s extra point put the Jets ahead 7-6.
It was a lead the Jets would not relinquish as that Ryan 4th down run gave a struggling team the spark that they needed. ''At that particular time, boy, it really gave us something,'' said McNeil.
On the Chiefs next possession, Harry Hamilton and Russell Carter jarred the ball loose from RB Larry Moriarty, the fumble was recovered by Kyle Clifton. The turnover was converted into McNeil’s 2nd tTD of the day -- this time on a 1-yard pass from Ryan. Ryan was efficient for the Jets, 16 of 23 for 153 yards and 3TDs, but the star of the day was McNeil. He carried 31 times for 135 yards and scored the two TDs.
The Jets put the game away on the opening possession of the 2nd half. Leading 21-6, Kevin McArthur picked off a Blackledge pass and took it back 21 yards for a score giving the Jets a 28-6 lead.
The Chiefs special teams got them into the end zone one last time, after Albert Lewis recovered a blocked punt in the end zone, but the Jets quickly responded as Ryan hit Wesley Walker on a 38 yard pass play to set up a 6 yard TD pass to back-up TE Billy Griggs. The Chiefs added a late safety when Dave Jenning ran out of the end zone to make the final margin 35-15.
'This is the sweetest win I've had in a long time,'' said Walton. ''I never lost faith in the team.''
Source: The New York Times
Just over a month earlier, the Jets were 10-1 and owners of the best record in the NFL. Thoughts aof a bye, home field advantage and a run to the Super Bowl were in the minds of their fans. Then, they lost 5 straight, all by at least two touchdowns while giving up an average of nearly 40 points per game. But the Jets still managed to limp into the playoffs at 10-6 as a wild card. On Dec 28, they hosted the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card playoff game.
During the 5-game losing streak, QB Ken O’Brien threw just 2 TD passes, but 12 interceptions. On Monday, after the regular season ended, head coach Joe Walton announced that he would stick with O’Brien for the playoffs, but on Tuesday, he changed his mind, announcing that back-up Pat Ryan would get the start.
Ryan struggled on the Jets opening drive, getting two passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage as the Jets were forced to punt. The Chiefs scored on their opening possession behind back-up QB, Todd Blackledge. Starter Bill Kenney was out with an injury to his hand. Blackledge led an opening 67 yard scoring drive that culminated in Jeff Smith’s 1 yard TD run. It would be the only offensive score that the Chiefs would manage all day.
Behind 6-0, after Nick Lowery missed an extra point, the Jets converted a 4th and 6 at the Chiefs 33 yard line rather than attempt a 50+ yard field goal. On the play, Ryan faked a pitchout to Freeman McNeil and went around end for 24 yards and a first and goal at the 9. 2 plays later, McNeil carried it in from 1 yard out to tie the game. Pat Leahy’s extra point put the Jets ahead 7-6.
It was a lead the Jets would not relinquish as that Ryan 4th down run gave a struggling team the spark that they needed. ''At that particular time, boy, it really gave us something,'' said McNeil.
On the Chiefs next possession, Harry Hamilton and Russell Carter jarred the ball loose from RB Larry Moriarty, the fumble was recovered by Kyle Clifton. The turnover was converted into McNeil’s 2nd tTD of the day -- this time on a 1-yard pass from Ryan. Ryan was efficient for the Jets, 16 of 23 for 153 yards and 3TDs, but the star of the day was McNeil. He carried 31 times for 135 yards and scored the two TDs.
The Jets put the game away on the opening possession of the 2nd half. Leading 21-6, Kevin McArthur picked off a Blackledge pass and took it back 21 yards for a score giving the Jets a 28-6 lead.
The Chiefs special teams got them into the end zone one last time, after Albert Lewis recovered a blocked punt in the end zone, but the Jets quickly responded as Ryan hit Wesley Walker on a 38 yard pass play to set up a 6 yard TD pass to back-up TE Billy Griggs. The Chiefs added a late safety when Dave Jenning ran out of the end zone to make the final margin 35-15.
'This is the sweetest win I've had in a long time,'' said Walton. ''I never lost faith in the team.''
Source: The New York Times
