Dec 24 in Jet History: Namath Reaches 4,000 Yards
Dec 24, 2015 8:22:02 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Dec 24, 2015 8:22:02 GMT -5
December 24, 1967
In their history, the Jets have played 5 times on Christmas Eve, dropping the last 4 games. The most recent game we all remember, the 29-14 loss to the Giants on Christmas Eve in 2011 that featured Victor Cruz 99-yard TD reception. But for the Jets only Christmas Eve win, we have to go way back to 1967 and a visit to San Diego to close out the season against the Chargers.
The day before, Sat 12/23, the Houston Oilers defeated Miami 41-10 to finish 9-4-1 and clinch the AFL East Division title, eliminating the 7-5-1 Jets from contention. But the Christmas Eve game still carried plenty of drama.
Joe Namath came into the game with 3,664 yards passing, having already established himself as the 2nd player (AFL or NFL) to throw for over 3,500 yards in a season. He needed just 84 yards to break Sonny Jurgensen’s record of 3,747 passing yards set a week earlier when the NFL’s regular season came to a close. With 336 passing yards, he could become the first to eclipse 4,000.
Despite Namath looking to make history, it was John Hadl and the Chargers that struck first. He hooked up with WIllie Frazier for a 72 yard score, giving the Chargers an early 7-0 lead. Namath and the Jets struck back with two TDs of their own before the first quarter ended: a 13-yard connection from Namath to Don Maynard and a BIll Mathis 1-yard run after a Bill Baird interception at the SD 39-yard line.
The Chargers got 2 big plays from running back Brad Hubbert to retake the lead as the game quickly becaome an offensive shootout. Hubbert went 46 yards for a score to tie the game, and later in the quarter, he broke one 80 yards to give San Diego a 21-14 lead. Hubbert finished the game with 189 yards rushing and the two TDs. The only time in his 4-year career that he would go over 100 yards in a game.
As for Namath and the Jets, they struck back taking a 28-24 lead into halftime after Namath hit his 2nd and 3rd TDs of the day -- a 36 yarder to George Sauer and a 26 yarder to Maynard. The Jets took control in the 3rd quarter when Mathis scored on his second 1 yard run of the game, and Namath and Maynard connected for the 3rd time, this one from 36 yards out giving the Jets a 42-24 lead. They coasted to a 42-31 victory.
Namath finished completing 18 of 26 passes for 343 yards and 4 TDs, giving him a total of 4,007 passing yards on the season. Joe would be the only quarterback to ever throw for 4,000 yards in a 14 game season and he remains the only Jet QB ever to reach the 4,000 yard mark. If he can average 286 yards over his last two games, Fitz could join Joe this season.
Namath’s record stood for 12 years until Dan Fouts of the Chargers threw for 4,082 yards in 16 games in 1979. Fouts would surpass that the following year as he went over 4,700 yards in 1980.
Source: The Reading Eagle
In their history, the Jets have played 5 times on Christmas Eve, dropping the last 4 games. The most recent game we all remember, the 29-14 loss to the Giants on Christmas Eve in 2011 that featured Victor Cruz 99-yard TD reception. But for the Jets only Christmas Eve win, we have to go way back to 1967 and a visit to San Diego to close out the season against the Chargers.
The day before, Sat 12/23, the Houston Oilers defeated Miami 41-10 to finish 9-4-1 and clinch the AFL East Division title, eliminating the 7-5-1 Jets from contention. But the Christmas Eve game still carried plenty of drama.
Joe Namath came into the game with 3,664 yards passing, having already established himself as the 2nd player (AFL or NFL) to throw for over 3,500 yards in a season. He needed just 84 yards to break Sonny Jurgensen’s record of 3,747 passing yards set a week earlier when the NFL’s regular season came to a close. With 336 passing yards, he could become the first to eclipse 4,000.
Despite Namath looking to make history, it was John Hadl and the Chargers that struck first. He hooked up with WIllie Frazier for a 72 yard score, giving the Chargers an early 7-0 lead. Namath and the Jets struck back with two TDs of their own before the first quarter ended: a 13-yard connection from Namath to Don Maynard and a BIll Mathis 1-yard run after a Bill Baird interception at the SD 39-yard line.
The Chargers got 2 big plays from running back Brad Hubbert to retake the lead as the game quickly becaome an offensive shootout. Hubbert went 46 yards for a score to tie the game, and later in the quarter, he broke one 80 yards to give San Diego a 21-14 lead. Hubbert finished the game with 189 yards rushing and the two TDs. The only time in his 4-year career that he would go over 100 yards in a game.
As for Namath and the Jets, they struck back taking a 28-24 lead into halftime after Namath hit his 2nd and 3rd TDs of the day -- a 36 yarder to George Sauer and a 26 yarder to Maynard. The Jets took control in the 3rd quarter when Mathis scored on his second 1 yard run of the game, and Namath and Maynard connected for the 3rd time, this one from 36 yards out giving the Jets a 42-24 lead. They coasted to a 42-31 victory.
Namath finished completing 18 of 26 passes for 343 yards and 4 TDs, giving him a total of 4,007 passing yards on the season. Joe would be the only quarterback to ever throw for 4,000 yards in a 14 game season and he remains the only Jet QB ever to reach the 4,000 yard mark. If he can average 286 yards over his last two games, Fitz could join Joe this season.
Namath’s record stood for 12 years until Dan Fouts of the Chargers threw for 4,082 yards in 16 games in 1979. Fouts would surpass that the following year as he went over 4,700 yards in 1980.
Source: The Reading Eagle
