Sept 19 in Jet History: Jets Win Big, but Lose Klecko
Sept 19, 2015 7:12:35 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Sept 19, 2015 7:12:35 GMT -5
September 19, 1982
The Jets came into the 1982 season with as much optimism as they had since they were defending Super Bowl Champions for the 69 season. They were coming off of the team’s first playoff appearance since 1969 the season before, a 31-27 defeat in the Wild Card playoff game at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.
Quarterback Richard Todd was coming off of his best season as a pro. With weapons like Wesley Walker and Jerome Barkum, Todd seemed poised to take the next step as a franchise QB. RB Freeman McNeil was entering his second season after a strong rookie campaign to give the Jets offense a balanced attack. Defensively, they were led by the NY Sack Exchange, Joe Klecko, Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam. They entered the 82 season as a legit Super Bowl contender.
The season did not start well for Gang Green. They lost their opener 45-28 to the Dolphins thanks to two pick 6s thrown by Todd and a punt return TD allowed by the Special Teams. They would travel to Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro on September 19, for their week 2 matchup with New England, where they completely dominated New England 31 - 7 behind a strong running game and a dominant defense. Freeman McNeil led the way offensively with 106 yards rushing and a TD as the Jets went for over 250 yards on the ground.
It was as dominant a performance as any Jet defense has ever displayed. The Patriots, quarterbacked by Matt Cavanaugh, were held to -4 passing yards for the game and less than 60 yards of total offense. Cavanaugh was 6 of 17, for 64 yards, but he was also sacked 6 times and lost 68 yards, with Joe Klecko leading the way with 2 sacks. The Jets added 3 interceptions of Cavanaugh, as he was picked by Lance Mehl, Jerry Holmes and Darrol Ray.
Ray’s interception came in the 2nd quarter and set up the first Jet score, a 30-yard FG by Pat Leahy. Richard Todd led an 80 yard scoring drive later in the 2nd, helped out by a 43-yard pass interference call on Patriots DB, Mike Haynes. Todd finished the drive himself with a 7 yard TD run.
The Jets extended their lead in the 3rd quarter, when Mike Augustyniak ran one in from 6 yards out. The Patriots made their only play of the day on the ensuing kickoff. as Ricky Smith took it back 98 yards for the only NE score of the day.
Even though the Jets added two 4th quarter TDs to put the game away, it was a costly quarter for the Jets. Early in the 4th, Klecko was engaged with NE left tackle, Brian Holloway when his knee gave way and he went down. He would be diagnosed with a ruptured patella tendon and the Jets would be without their defensive leader for the rest of the regular season. He returned for the playoffs in time to play in the AFCCG, the Mud Bowl in Miami.
''It's going to hurt me,'' Mark Gastineau said. ''When other teams put two men on him, I was free. This is a devastating loss for the Jets.''
''When he went down,'' Abdul Salaam said, ''I felt as if part of myself had gone down too. When he screamed, I knew he had to be hurting.''
The Jets came into the 1982 season with as much optimism as they had since they were defending Super Bowl Champions for the 69 season. They were coming off of the team’s first playoff appearance since 1969 the season before, a 31-27 defeat in the Wild Card playoff game at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.
Quarterback Richard Todd was coming off of his best season as a pro. With weapons like Wesley Walker and Jerome Barkum, Todd seemed poised to take the next step as a franchise QB. RB Freeman McNeil was entering his second season after a strong rookie campaign to give the Jets offense a balanced attack. Defensively, they were led by the NY Sack Exchange, Joe Klecko, Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam. They entered the 82 season as a legit Super Bowl contender.
The season did not start well for Gang Green. They lost their opener 45-28 to the Dolphins thanks to two pick 6s thrown by Todd and a punt return TD allowed by the Special Teams. They would travel to Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro on September 19, for their week 2 matchup with New England, where they completely dominated New England 31 - 7 behind a strong running game and a dominant defense. Freeman McNeil led the way offensively with 106 yards rushing and a TD as the Jets went for over 250 yards on the ground.
It was as dominant a performance as any Jet defense has ever displayed. The Patriots, quarterbacked by Matt Cavanaugh, were held to -4 passing yards for the game and less than 60 yards of total offense. Cavanaugh was 6 of 17, for 64 yards, but he was also sacked 6 times and lost 68 yards, with Joe Klecko leading the way with 2 sacks. The Jets added 3 interceptions of Cavanaugh, as he was picked by Lance Mehl, Jerry Holmes and Darrol Ray.
Ray’s interception came in the 2nd quarter and set up the first Jet score, a 30-yard FG by Pat Leahy. Richard Todd led an 80 yard scoring drive later in the 2nd, helped out by a 43-yard pass interference call on Patriots DB, Mike Haynes. Todd finished the drive himself with a 7 yard TD run.
The Jets extended their lead in the 3rd quarter, when Mike Augustyniak ran one in from 6 yards out. The Patriots made their only play of the day on the ensuing kickoff. as Ricky Smith took it back 98 yards for the only NE score of the day.
Even though the Jets added two 4th quarter TDs to put the game away, it was a costly quarter for the Jets. Early in the 4th, Klecko was engaged with NE left tackle, Brian Holloway when his knee gave way and he went down. He would be diagnosed with a ruptured patella tendon and the Jets would be without their defensive leader for the rest of the regular season. He returned for the playoffs in time to play in the AFCCG, the Mud Bowl in Miami.
''It's going to hurt me,'' Mark Gastineau said. ''When other teams put two men on him, I was free. This is a devastating loss for the Jets.''
''When he went down,'' Abdul Salaam said, ''I felt as if part of myself had gone down too. When he screamed, I knew he had to be hurting.''
