Post by Lithfan on Sept 15, 2015 5:42:02 GMT -5
Sept 15, 1985
The Jets were coming off of a disappointing 31-0 thrashing at the hands of the Raiders in Los Angeles in Week 1. For week 2, they played host to the Buffalo Bills. The Bills were the perfect opponent for a team looking to get its season back on track. Although the Bills were in the process of assembling the talent that would have them in 4 straight Super Bowls in the early 90s, they were still a long way from that type of success, coming off a 2-14 season.
In the 85 draft, Buffalo added two future Hall of Famers in Bruce Smith and Andre Reed. Jim Kelly had not yet returned to the NFL, he was still playing with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL. So it was that veteran journeyman Vince Ferragamo led a young Bills team into the Meadowlands for a week 2 showdown with the Jets.
The Bills got on the scoreboard first on Scott Norwood’s 32 yard field goal, which capped a 14-play 33 yard drive. The BIlls had to overcome 4 offensive penalties (for anyone wondering how you only gain 33 yards on a 14 play drive) to complete the scoring drive. Norwood’s FG would be the only points of the day for Buffalo, as the Jets took complete control behind a career day from Freeman McNeil and an opportunistic defense that would force 5 turnovers.
McNeil enjoyed his best regular season game as a pro. He amassed 192 yards on just 18 carries. He scored two 2nd quarter TDs and added a career long 69-yard 3rd quarter run that set the Jets up for a 2-yard scoring strike from QB Ken O’Brien to Tony Paige. By that time, the rout was already on. The toss to Paige was Ken O’Brien’s 2nd TD pass of the day, having already connected with Kurt Sohn for a 7 yard score in the 2nd. Kerry Glenn also returned an interception for a score as the Jets rolled over the Bills 42-3. It was one of four interceptions thrown by Ferragamo.
Typically humble, McNeil credited the offensive line and the return of holdouts Marvin Powell and Reggie McElroy, for his success on the day, “When you mention the day I had today, I’d like the offensive line and the quarterback to be mentioned too. They are as much the story as I am.” McNeil continued, “With them here (Powell & McElroy) there was a renewed confidence in our total team.”
The 39-point margin of victory equaled the largest victory margin in team history. In 1966, the Jets had beaten the Houston Oilers 52-13, also a 39-point win. The 192 yards gained by McNeil would prove to be his most productive regular season game. He had run for 202 in a playoff game against Cincinnati in 1982. This game was also the second game for new Jets offensive coordinator, Rich Kotite, a name that would become all too familiar to Jet fans a decade later, for the wrong reasons.
The Jets were coming off of a disappointing 31-0 thrashing at the hands of the Raiders in Los Angeles in Week 1. For week 2, they played host to the Buffalo Bills. The Bills were the perfect opponent for a team looking to get its season back on track. Although the Bills were in the process of assembling the talent that would have them in 4 straight Super Bowls in the early 90s, they were still a long way from that type of success, coming off a 2-14 season.
In the 85 draft, Buffalo added two future Hall of Famers in Bruce Smith and Andre Reed. Jim Kelly had not yet returned to the NFL, he was still playing with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL. So it was that veteran journeyman Vince Ferragamo led a young Bills team into the Meadowlands for a week 2 showdown with the Jets.
The Bills got on the scoreboard first on Scott Norwood’s 32 yard field goal, which capped a 14-play 33 yard drive. The BIlls had to overcome 4 offensive penalties (for anyone wondering how you only gain 33 yards on a 14 play drive) to complete the scoring drive. Norwood’s FG would be the only points of the day for Buffalo, as the Jets took complete control behind a career day from Freeman McNeil and an opportunistic defense that would force 5 turnovers.
McNeil enjoyed his best regular season game as a pro. He amassed 192 yards on just 18 carries. He scored two 2nd quarter TDs and added a career long 69-yard 3rd quarter run that set the Jets up for a 2-yard scoring strike from QB Ken O’Brien to Tony Paige. By that time, the rout was already on. The toss to Paige was Ken O’Brien’s 2nd TD pass of the day, having already connected with Kurt Sohn for a 7 yard score in the 2nd. Kerry Glenn also returned an interception for a score as the Jets rolled over the Bills 42-3. It was one of four interceptions thrown by Ferragamo.
Typically humble, McNeil credited the offensive line and the return of holdouts Marvin Powell and Reggie McElroy, for his success on the day, “When you mention the day I had today, I’d like the offensive line and the quarterback to be mentioned too. They are as much the story as I am.” McNeil continued, “With them here (Powell & McElroy) there was a renewed confidence in our total team.”
The 39-point margin of victory equaled the largest victory margin in team history. In 1966, the Jets had beaten the Houston Oilers 52-13, also a 39-point win. The 192 yards gained by McNeil would prove to be his most productive regular season game. He had run for 202 in a playoff game against Cincinnati in 1982. This game was also the second game for new Jets offensive coordinator, Rich Kotite, a name that would become all too familiar to Jet fans a decade later, for the wrong reasons.
