Oct 5 in Jet History: My First Jet Game
Oct 5, 2015 5:36:14 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Oct 5, 2015 5:36:14 GMT -5
October 5, 1968
63,786 fans turned out to Shea Stadium for a Saturday Night AFL meeting between the 2-1 NY Jets and the 3-0 San Diego Chargers. It was the largest crowd to date for an AFL game. A game that was significant to me, because I was one of those 63,786 fans, sitting with my dad in the temporary bleachers behind the end zone by the open end of the Stadium. It was my first AFL game.
A week earlier, the Jets were upset 37-35 by the Buffalo Bills. It was the only game the Bills would win in the 1968 season, as the Jets turned the ball over 6 times, including 5 interceptions thrown by Joe Namath. 3 of them were returned for TDs. Coach Weeb Ewbank wanted to see a more conservative approach out of his QB, so they committed to the run for the San Diego game.
The Jets ran early and often, but not very effectively. Their first 3 possession all ended in punts and not one pass was thrown by Namath. The game was tight throughout and the lead would change 4 times. Neither team was able to run the ball effectively, but true to the game plan, the Jets stuck with it and it eventually paid off. The Chargers had 28 rushing yards on the night on 20 carries. The Jets were committed to the run throughout, sticking with it longer than the Chargers, but they managed just 82 rushing yards on their 40 carries.
The Jets took a 9-7 lead into the half on the strength of 3 Jim Turner field goals. The Chargers only score of the half came on a 7 yard TD pass from John Hadl to HOF WR Lance Alworth. The Jets extended their lead in the 3rd quarter on a 1 yard TD run by Matt Snell.
The Chargers were known for a big play, quick strike offense, and after the Snell TD, the Chargers struck quickly. Hadl hit WR Gary Garrison on an 84 yard TD bomb to cut the Jets lead to 2 points. Another Hadl-Garrison TD midway through the 4th quarter gave the Chargers a 20-16 lead.
After being handcuffed by a conservative game plan all day, Namath was finally given the chance to air the ball out to try to bring the Jets back from behind. Namath would finish the day completing just 16 of 34 passes, but he was 9 for 12 on that final drive. He led the Jets into Chargers territory, at the 40, when a defensive penalty gave them a first down at the SD 25. Namath hit back-up TE Mark Smolinski for 18 yards and a first and goal at the 7. Finally the Jets' commitment to the run paid off, as 4 plays later, on 4th and goal from the 1, with 1:43 left, Emerson Boozer carried it in for the last yard and a 23-20 Jets lead, but it was not over yet.
John Hadl had time on the clock and was leading the Chargers down the field. The Chargers drive began with an incomplete pass, followed by a holding penalty which gave them 2nd and long at their own 8, and the Jets lead seemed safe. But then, Hadl hit Garrison for 23 yards and rookie Ken Dyer for 22 on consecutive plays to get into Jets territory. The Chargers made it to field goal range on the next play, a 15 yard connection to Garrison to the Jets 32. Rather than play for the tie, the Chargers tried to win it. Hadl threw to the end zone, but he was hit by Gerry Philbin as he was releasing the ball and it floated enough for Johnny Sample to make the pick at the 4-yard line. Right in front of the end zone where I was sitting.
The win gave the Jets sole possession of first place in the AFL Eastern Division, a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the season.
63,786 fans turned out to Shea Stadium for a Saturday Night AFL meeting between the 2-1 NY Jets and the 3-0 San Diego Chargers. It was the largest crowd to date for an AFL game. A game that was significant to me, because I was one of those 63,786 fans, sitting with my dad in the temporary bleachers behind the end zone by the open end of the Stadium. It was my first AFL game.
A week earlier, the Jets were upset 37-35 by the Buffalo Bills. It was the only game the Bills would win in the 1968 season, as the Jets turned the ball over 6 times, including 5 interceptions thrown by Joe Namath. 3 of them were returned for TDs. Coach Weeb Ewbank wanted to see a more conservative approach out of his QB, so they committed to the run for the San Diego game.
The Jets ran early and often, but not very effectively. Their first 3 possession all ended in punts and not one pass was thrown by Namath. The game was tight throughout and the lead would change 4 times. Neither team was able to run the ball effectively, but true to the game plan, the Jets stuck with it and it eventually paid off. The Chargers had 28 rushing yards on the night on 20 carries. The Jets were committed to the run throughout, sticking with it longer than the Chargers, but they managed just 82 rushing yards on their 40 carries.
The Jets took a 9-7 lead into the half on the strength of 3 Jim Turner field goals. The Chargers only score of the half came on a 7 yard TD pass from John Hadl to HOF WR Lance Alworth. The Jets extended their lead in the 3rd quarter on a 1 yard TD run by Matt Snell.
The Chargers were known for a big play, quick strike offense, and after the Snell TD, the Chargers struck quickly. Hadl hit WR Gary Garrison on an 84 yard TD bomb to cut the Jets lead to 2 points. Another Hadl-Garrison TD midway through the 4th quarter gave the Chargers a 20-16 lead.
After being handcuffed by a conservative game plan all day, Namath was finally given the chance to air the ball out to try to bring the Jets back from behind. Namath would finish the day completing just 16 of 34 passes, but he was 9 for 12 on that final drive. He led the Jets into Chargers territory, at the 40, when a defensive penalty gave them a first down at the SD 25. Namath hit back-up TE Mark Smolinski for 18 yards and a first and goal at the 7. Finally the Jets' commitment to the run paid off, as 4 plays later, on 4th and goal from the 1, with 1:43 left, Emerson Boozer carried it in for the last yard and a 23-20 Jets lead, but it was not over yet.
John Hadl had time on the clock and was leading the Chargers down the field. The Chargers drive began with an incomplete pass, followed by a holding penalty which gave them 2nd and long at their own 8, and the Jets lead seemed safe. But then, Hadl hit Garrison for 23 yards and rookie Ken Dyer for 22 on consecutive plays to get into Jets territory. The Chargers made it to field goal range on the next play, a 15 yard connection to Garrison to the Jets 32. Rather than play for the tie, the Chargers tried to win it. Hadl threw to the end zone, but he was hit by Gerry Philbin as he was releasing the ball and it floated enough for Johnny Sample to make the pick at the 4-yard line. Right in front of the end zone where I was sitting.
The win gave the Jets sole possession of first place in the AFL Eastern Division, a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the season.
