Post by Lithfan on Sept 24, 2015 5:50:07 GMT -5
September 24, 1972
Joe Namath and the Jets were preparing for a week 2 matchup in Baltimore with Johnny Unitas and the Colts. The Jets were 1-0, coming off of a 41-24 victory in Buffalo, and the Colts were coming off of a 10-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the last time the two Hall of Fame QBs would meet on the field and they put on quite a show for the fans that Sunday afternoon.
The teams had met four times since the Super Bowl in 1969, with the Colts coming out on top in all 4 contests. The conventional wisdom suggested that the Jets would attack the Colts zone defense with short passes in front of the zone. When questioned about this during the week, Namath just smiled and said, “No, not necessarily. There are times you can go long against a zone.”
And go long he did. Namath enjoyed his best day as a pro, throwing for 496 yards on just 15 completions -- an average of over 33 yards per completion. 6 of those 15 passes were TDs including 4 that covered more than 65 yards. Namath’s performance overshadowed a great afternoon by Johnny Unitas, who finished the game completing 26-45 passes for 376 yards and 2 TDs. The combined passing yardage by both men set an NFL record at the time.
Highlights of the game from NYJets.com
Namath’s first big play came early, a 65 yard TD pass to Eddie Bell and an early 6-0 lead as the extra point was missed. Unitas and the Colts responded with a 40 yard scoring toss to WR Sam Havrilak and Baltimore had a 7-6 lead after the first quarter.
The pace picked up in the 2nd quarter as the teams combined for 4 TDs in a 90 second span late in the half. After two Jim O’Brien field goals gave the Colts a 13-6 lead, Namath hit John Riggins for 67 yards and his 2nd TD to tie the game. Baltimore immediately struck back to retake the lead on Don McCauley’s 93 yard return of the ensuing kickoff. Namath added scoring strikes to Don Maynard (28 yards) and Rich Caster (10 yards) to end the first half on top 27-20.
The 3rd quarter was quiet -- the only score being a 14 yard field goal by the Jets’ Bobby Howfield to extend the lead. After the Colts closed the gap on a Tom Matte TD run in the 4th, Namath came up big again. On the first play from scrimmage, he connected with Rich Caster for 79 yards. Unitas led the Colts back on a TD strike to Matte, but once again, Namath and Caster needed only 1 play to respond -- this time covering 80 yards and giving the Jets the final margin of victory, 44-34.
Baltimore head coach Don McCafferty knew that there was little his defense could do to stop Namath when he was on top of his game. “Sometimes he picked us apart and sometimes he just threw,” McCafferty said after the game, “There is no way you can adjust to a quarterback like that.”
It was a last hurrah of sorts for Unitas. He would be replaced in by Marty Domres after the Colts got off to a 1-4 start. He started 4 games for the San Diego Chargers in 1973, going 1-3 before retiring at age 40.
Source: The Lexington NC Dispatch (9/25/72) & The Washington PA Observer-Reporter (9/25/72)
Joe Namath and the Jets were preparing for a week 2 matchup in Baltimore with Johnny Unitas and the Colts. The Jets were 1-0, coming off of a 41-24 victory in Buffalo, and the Colts were coming off of a 10-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the last time the two Hall of Fame QBs would meet on the field and they put on quite a show for the fans that Sunday afternoon.
The teams had met four times since the Super Bowl in 1969, with the Colts coming out on top in all 4 contests. The conventional wisdom suggested that the Jets would attack the Colts zone defense with short passes in front of the zone. When questioned about this during the week, Namath just smiled and said, “No, not necessarily. There are times you can go long against a zone.”
And go long he did. Namath enjoyed his best day as a pro, throwing for 496 yards on just 15 completions -- an average of over 33 yards per completion. 6 of those 15 passes were TDs including 4 that covered more than 65 yards. Namath’s performance overshadowed a great afternoon by Johnny Unitas, who finished the game completing 26-45 passes for 376 yards and 2 TDs. The combined passing yardage by both men set an NFL record at the time.
Highlights of the game from NYJets.com
Namath’s first big play came early, a 65 yard TD pass to Eddie Bell and an early 6-0 lead as the extra point was missed. Unitas and the Colts responded with a 40 yard scoring toss to WR Sam Havrilak and Baltimore had a 7-6 lead after the first quarter.
The pace picked up in the 2nd quarter as the teams combined for 4 TDs in a 90 second span late in the half. After two Jim O’Brien field goals gave the Colts a 13-6 lead, Namath hit John Riggins for 67 yards and his 2nd TD to tie the game. Baltimore immediately struck back to retake the lead on Don McCauley’s 93 yard return of the ensuing kickoff. Namath added scoring strikes to Don Maynard (28 yards) and Rich Caster (10 yards) to end the first half on top 27-20.
The 3rd quarter was quiet -- the only score being a 14 yard field goal by the Jets’ Bobby Howfield to extend the lead. After the Colts closed the gap on a Tom Matte TD run in the 4th, Namath came up big again. On the first play from scrimmage, he connected with Rich Caster for 79 yards. Unitas led the Colts back on a TD strike to Matte, but once again, Namath and Caster needed only 1 play to respond -- this time covering 80 yards and giving the Jets the final margin of victory, 44-34.
Baltimore head coach Don McCafferty knew that there was little his defense could do to stop Namath when he was on top of his game. “Sometimes he picked us apart and sometimes he just threw,” McCafferty said after the game, “There is no way you can adjust to a quarterback like that.”
It was a last hurrah of sorts for Unitas. He would be replaced in by Marty Domres after the Colts got off to a 1-4 start. He started 4 games for the San Diego Chargers in 1973, going 1-3 before retiring at age 40.
Source: The Lexington NC Dispatch (9/25/72) & The Washington PA Observer-Reporter (9/25/72)
