Sept 18 in Jet History: Namath's First Game
Sept 18, 2015 5:44:50 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Sept 18, 2015 5:44:50 GMT -5
September 18, 1965
Week 2 of the 1965 AFL season featured a matchup between the NY Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jets offense was led by 3rd year pro QB Mike Taliaferro, a 28th round draft pick out of Illinois. He was backed up by the $400K per year rookie, Joe Namath. The Jets were coming off of a week 1 loss in Houston in which Taliaferro completed just 4 of 21 passes for 58 yards.
Week 2 was the home opener, and the NY crowd desperately want to see the rookie get his first shot. Coach Ewbank gave the starting nod to the veteran. In the first quarter, after a long defensive pass interference penalty set the Jets up at the Chiefs 15 yard line, Taliaferro missed Don Maynard on two attempts and the Jets had to settle for a field goal. In spite of the 3-0 lead, the crowd expressed their displeasure at the veteran’s play. “I was never booed in college,” Taliaferro said. “I’m sure I must have been booed before , but I was never so aware of it as I was on Saturday night.”
As Taliferro’s struggles continued into the 2nd quarter (4-12, 24 yards), Weeb Ewbank must have decided it was time. Namath took over the offense for the Jets last two possessions in the first half. His first possession was anti-climactic, 3 straight running plays gained 9 yards and the Jets punted the ball away. A 52-yard punt return by KC’s Willie Mitchell set the Chiefs up at the Jets 30. The Chiefs took the lead on a 19-yard scoring strike from Len Dawson to Chris Burford.
Joe completed his first pass on the next drive, good for a 4-yard loss on a screen to Matt Snell. At the half, the Jets trailed 7-3, and Namath was 1 for 3 for -4 yards. Not exactly the kind of debut either Joe or the fans expected.
Namath looked better in the 3rd quarter, but all the Jets had to show for their efforts was a missed field goal and a failed 4th down conversion in the red zone. He made his first rookie mistake in the 4th quarter, still trailing 7-3, and it was costly one. Namath held the ball too long on a pass play. Future Hall of Fame LB Bobby Bell knocked it loose and recovered the fumble at the Jets 24 yard line. The Chiefs converted the fumble into another Dawson - Burford TD and the Chiefs led 14-3.
Namath’s best moments came in the 4th quarter. He hit Bake Turner twice, and after a defensive penalty, Joe would connect with Don Maynard for 37 yards and his first AFL touchdown. Namath and the Jets had one last chance to try to pull the game out. On 4th and 3 at the Chiefs 43-yard line, Namath threw deep to Maynard, but Maynard cut his route short and the pass fell to the ground, incomplete. The Chiefs held on for the 14-10 victory.
In interviews after their careers were over, both Namath and Maynard talked about how they were always on the same page, always saw the field the same and knew what each other was going to do. They both acknowledged that in all the years that they played together, they only had one busted play and it was in the first game they played together. It probably was that 4th down throw against KC.
“I knew the crowd was cheering,” Joe said after the game. “But I know what I should do - I should have done better. I was glad to get in but I’m disappointed I didn't do better. I didn't hit the receivers enough.”
“I thought Joe played very well against a group out there that had 10 years experience on him,” Coach Ewbank said. “And we should have won. A couple of passes were missed -- but through no fault of Joe’s.”
When asked after the game which QB would start the following week, the Coach was noncommittal -- just saying whoever plays better in practice would get the start. Turned out to be Namath.
Week 2 of the 1965 AFL season featured a matchup between the NY Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jets offense was led by 3rd year pro QB Mike Taliaferro, a 28th round draft pick out of Illinois. He was backed up by the $400K per year rookie, Joe Namath. The Jets were coming off of a week 1 loss in Houston in which Taliaferro completed just 4 of 21 passes for 58 yards.
Week 2 was the home opener, and the NY crowd desperately want to see the rookie get his first shot. Coach Ewbank gave the starting nod to the veteran. In the first quarter, after a long defensive pass interference penalty set the Jets up at the Chiefs 15 yard line, Taliaferro missed Don Maynard on two attempts and the Jets had to settle for a field goal. In spite of the 3-0 lead, the crowd expressed their displeasure at the veteran’s play. “I was never booed in college,” Taliaferro said. “I’m sure I must have been booed before , but I was never so aware of it as I was on Saturday night.”
As Taliferro’s struggles continued into the 2nd quarter (4-12, 24 yards), Weeb Ewbank must have decided it was time. Namath took over the offense for the Jets last two possessions in the first half. His first possession was anti-climactic, 3 straight running plays gained 9 yards and the Jets punted the ball away. A 52-yard punt return by KC’s Willie Mitchell set the Chiefs up at the Jets 30. The Chiefs took the lead on a 19-yard scoring strike from Len Dawson to Chris Burford.
Joe completed his first pass on the next drive, good for a 4-yard loss on a screen to Matt Snell. At the half, the Jets trailed 7-3, and Namath was 1 for 3 for -4 yards. Not exactly the kind of debut either Joe or the fans expected.
Namath looked better in the 3rd quarter, but all the Jets had to show for their efforts was a missed field goal and a failed 4th down conversion in the red zone. He made his first rookie mistake in the 4th quarter, still trailing 7-3, and it was costly one. Namath held the ball too long on a pass play. Future Hall of Fame LB Bobby Bell knocked it loose and recovered the fumble at the Jets 24 yard line. The Chiefs converted the fumble into another Dawson - Burford TD and the Chiefs led 14-3.
Namath’s best moments came in the 4th quarter. He hit Bake Turner twice, and after a defensive penalty, Joe would connect with Don Maynard for 37 yards and his first AFL touchdown. Namath and the Jets had one last chance to try to pull the game out. On 4th and 3 at the Chiefs 43-yard line, Namath threw deep to Maynard, but Maynard cut his route short and the pass fell to the ground, incomplete. The Chiefs held on for the 14-10 victory.
In interviews after their careers were over, both Namath and Maynard talked about how they were always on the same page, always saw the field the same and knew what each other was going to do. They both acknowledged that in all the years that they played together, they only had one busted play and it was in the first game they played together. It probably was that 4th down throw against KC.
“I knew the crowd was cheering,” Joe said after the game. “But I know what I should do - I should have done better. I was glad to get in but I’m disappointed I didn't do better. I didn't hit the receivers enough.”
“I thought Joe played very well against a group out there that had 10 years experience on him,” Coach Ewbank said. “And we should have won. A couple of passes were missed -- but through no fault of Joe’s.”
When asked after the game which QB would start the following week, the Coach was noncommittal -- just saying whoever plays better in practice would get the start. Turned out to be Namath.
