Post by Lithfan on Dec 15, 2015 6:35:17 GMT -5
December 15, 1968
The Jets finished up their 1968 regular season with a 31-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins. The Jets had already clinched the AFL Eastern Division title several weeks earlier, so this game was little more than a tune up for the Jets playoff game in two weeks.
The Dolphins, who came into the game at 5-7-1, were without their starting QB, Bob Griese who was out with an injury. Griese’s back up was Rick Norton who got the start, but would split time with rookie Kim Hammond who had seen limited action on the season.
Joe Namath started and only played the first half for the Jets, leading them to a 17-7 halftime edge before giving way to back-up Babe Parilli in the second half. Namath got the Jets off to a quick start, as he hit Bake Turner with a 71 yard pass play to set up the game’s first TD, a 6-yard run by Matt Snell. After a Jim Turner field goal gave the Jets a 10-0 lead, the defense came up big.
Ralph Baker intercepted Norton’s 2nd quarter pass and brought it back to the 4 yard line. 3 plays later, it was Emerson Boozer taking it in from 1 yard out and the Jets were up 17.
A couple of Jet mistakes helped Miami get within 10 at halftime. George Sauer lost a fumble after a reception deep in Jet territory, setting Miami up inside the 10. A Randy Beverly pass interference call gave the Dolphins first and goal at the 1 and Larry Csonka carried it over from there, making it a 17-7 halftime game.
Namath’s day was done at this point, he finished 6-10 for 120 yards and 0 TDs or Ints. Parilli came on and led two 2nd half scoring drives, hitting Pete Lammons for a 3 yard TD in the 3rd quarter. Bill Mathis finished the scoring with a TD run in the 4th.
Having sewn up the East at 11-3, all the Jets could do at this point was wait of an opponent in the AFL Championship game. The Chiefs and Raiders finished tied in the West, both teams finishing 12-2. They would meet in a Divisional Game the following week with the Raiders coming out on top 41-6 and earning the right to travel to Shea Stadium and take on the Jets with a berth in the Super Bowl on the line.
The Jets finished up their 1968 regular season with a 31-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins. The Jets had already clinched the AFL Eastern Division title several weeks earlier, so this game was little more than a tune up for the Jets playoff game in two weeks.
The Dolphins, who came into the game at 5-7-1, were without their starting QB, Bob Griese who was out with an injury. Griese’s back up was Rick Norton who got the start, but would split time with rookie Kim Hammond who had seen limited action on the season.
Joe Namath started and only played the first half for the Jets, leading them to a 17-7 halftime edge before giving way to back-up Babe Parilli in the second half. Namath got the Jets off to a quick start, as he hit Bake Turner with a 71 yard pass play to set up the game’s first TD, a 6-yard run by Matt Snell. After a Jim Turner field goal gave the Jets a 10-0 lead, the defense came up big.
Ralph Baker intercepted Norton’s 2nd quarter pass and brought it back to the 4 yard line. 3 plays later, it was Emerson Boozer taking it in from 1 yard out and the Jets were up 17.
A couple of Jet mistakes helped Miami get within 10 at halftime. George Sauer lost a fumble after a reception deep in Jet territory, setting Miami up inside the 10. A Randy Beverly pass interference call gave the Dolphins first and goal at the 1 and Larry Csonka carried it over from there, making it a 17-7 halftime game.
Namath’s day was done at this point, he finished 6-10 for 120 yards and 0 TDs or Ints. Parilli came on and led two 2nd half scoring drives, hitting Pete Lammons for a 3 yard TD in the 3rd quarter. Bill Mathis finished the scoring with a TD run in the 4th.
Having sewn up the East at 11-3, all the Jets could do at this point was wait of an opponent in the AFL Championship game. The Chiefs and Raiders finished tied in the West, both teams finishing 12-2. They would meet in a Divisional Game the following week with the Raiders coming out on top 41-6 and earning the right to travel to Shea Stadium and take on the Jets with a berth in the Super Bowl on the line.