9. 1965 CHICAGO BEARS at 8. 1968 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW YORK JETS
8. 1968 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW YORK JETS
Record: 11-3
Pythag: 10-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 4th
1st AFL East
d. Raiders AFL Title 27-23
d. Colts Super Bowl 16-7
HC: Weeb Ewbank OC: Clive Rush
Shea Stadium: 45 degrees
Merle Harmon/Sam DeLuca
Offense
QB Joe Namath (25 Alabama) All Pro
RB Emerson Boozer (25)
RB Matt Snell (27 Ohio St)
WR Don Maynard (33 M Eastern Shore)
WR George Sauer (25 Texas) All Pro
TE Pete Lammons (25 Texas)
LT Winston Hill (27 Tex So)
LG Randy Rasmussen (23 Neb-Kearney)
C John Schmitt (26 Hofstra)
RG Dave Herman (27 Mich St)
RT Sam Walton (25-R Tex A&M Comm)
Defense
LDE Gerry Philbin (27 Buffalo) All pro
LDT Paul Rochester (30 Mich St)
RDT John Elliott (24 Texas)
RDE Verlon Biggs (25 Jack St)
LLB Ralph Baker (26 Penn St)
MLB Al Atkinson (25 Nova)
RLB Larry Grantham (30 Ole Miss)
LCB Johnny Sample (32 ME Shore)
RCB Randy Beverly (24 Col St)
LS Jim Hudson (25 Texas)
RS Cornell Gordon (27 NC A&T)
K Jim Turner (27 Utah St)
P Curley Johnson (33 Houston)
KR/PR Earl Christy (25 ME Shore)
The 8th seed in Region 7 is the most famous Jets team of all time, it's Joe Willie Namath and the Super Bowl Champion 1968 team. 2nd in the AFL in offense, 4th in defense (10 team league, so this team is carried by the offense). Namath's 25, All Pro, 17 total scores and 17 picks. Emerson Boozer and George Sauer are also All Pros at 25. Sauer had over 1100 yards receiving. 33 year old Don Maynard scored 10 times. 27 year old Gerry Philbin is an All Pro on the other side of the ball; 32 year old Johnny Sample had 7 picks. There isn't a Jets team which has advanced yet and they won't get many shots; they want to make this one count.
9. 1965 CHICAGO BEARS
Record: 9-5
Pythag: 10-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 2nd
3rd NFL West
No playoffs
HC: George Halas DC George Allen
Offense
QB Randy Bukich (35 USC)
RB Gale Sayers (22-R)
RB Ronnie Bull (25)
WR Johnny Morris (30)
WR Jim Jones (24-R)
TE Mike Ditka (26)
LT Herman Lee (34)
LG Mike Rabold (28)
C Mike Pyle (26)
RG Jim Cadile (25)
RT Bob Wetoska (28)
Defense
LDE Dick Evey (24)
LDT Bob Kilcullen (29)
RDT Earl Leggett (32)
RDE Doug Atkins (35)
LLB Joe Fortunato (35) All Pro
MLB Dick Butkus (23-R) All pro
RLB Larry Morris (32)
LCB Bennie McRae (26)
RCB Dave Whitsell (29)
LS Richie Petitbon (27)
RS Rosey Taylor (28)
K Roger LeClerc (29)
P Bobby Joe Green (29)
KR/PR Gale Sayers (22) All Pro
We follow up a battle of the 70s with a battle of the 60s, the '65 Bears didn't make the playoffs but were second in both offense and defense in '65. 35 year old Randy Bukich accounted for 23 scores with 9 picks; he hands the ball to the 22 year old rookie, Gale Sayers -- this is a 14 game season, Sayers had 22 TDs. He ran for them, caught them, returned kicks for them. On the either side of the ball, another All Pro rookie, 23 year old Dick Butkus w/5 picks and 7 fumble recoveries. 35 year old Joe Fortunato plays next to him and is also an All pro.
Let's go to Shea for the kick.
1st Qtr
Jets to start at the 27.
3 and out.
Bears at the 38.
1/10 - Gale Sayers, expect to see a heavy dose of Gale Sayers - he gets the ball - Jets are ready, stopped at the line.
2/10 - Ronnie Bull gets the ball - he gets 8 yards. Third and 2.
3/2 - Sayers....is going to be just short, right at the sticks, Bears near midfield with a 4th and inches.
And Halas says go for it. Okay - Halas going for it on 4th down on the first drive of the game. Fun.
4/1 - Bull picks it up. Across midfield to the 49. All running plays.
1/10 - 5 for Sayers.
2/5 - 4 for Sayers.
3/1 - Bull picks it up. Bears to the 37.
1/10 - Andy Livingston gets a carry, that's 8 runs to start the game for Chicago. Stopped at the line.
2/10 - Sayers gets 2, 9 straight runs.
3/8 - Rudy Bukich's first pass. Incomplete.
So now it's 4th and 8 from the 35...Halas is gonna go for it again -- too far to FG, too close to punt -- that's tough, Jets can just play the pass - can Burkich pick it up?
4/8 - Incomplete.
Jets regain on downs. After a false start, 1st/15 at the 30.
1/15 - Matt Snell gets 2.
2/13 - Snell stacked up.
3/13 - It's the first completion of the day - Joe Namath to Bake Turner - it's 20 yards and the Jets cross midfield.
1/10- Emerson Boozer for 5. Offsides on the next play is a first down.
1/10 - Boozer stopped.
2/10 - Snell stopped.
3/10 - Namath hits Pete Lammons - the TE is all the way to the 26 for the first down.
1/10 - Boozer gets 2.
2/8 - Snell busts one -- all the way to the Bears 5 yard line for the first and goal.
It stops there - on the last play of the qtr is the short Turner FG. 3-0
2nd Qtr: Jets 3 Bears 0
If you thought there was some running in that last game - almost entirely all runs, the Bears don't have a completed pass. Jets FG on the last play of the qtr, here's the kickoff.
Bears start at the 22.
1/10 - Livingston carry. 3 yards.
2/7 - Bukich's first completion is to Sayers in the flat - Sayers makes people miss all the way for 16.
1/10 - Bull gets 2.
2/8 - Doug Atkins pounds Bukich into the turf for the sack.
3/15 - Bears pick it up - Bukich to Dick Gordon - 20 yards and they are in NY territory.
But that's all - 3 plays net 3 yards. Punt.
Jets at their own 12, first and 15 after a penalty.
1/15 - Snell gets 3.
2/12 - Boozer gets 1.
3/11 - Namath finds George Sauer -- 19 yards - big gainer to the 35.
1/10 - Snell for 2.
2/8 - Bill Mathis loses 2.
3/10 - Namath hits Bake Turner again - 27 more -- Jets at the Chicago 39 with 6 left in the half, still leading 3-0.
1/10 - Namath to Lammons, 10 yards to the 29.
1/10 - Snell for 2.
2/8 - Incomplete
3/8 - Namath converts his third third down of the drive - Don Maynard for 15 and the Jets are at the Bears 12.
The drive stalls. Another short kick. 6-0.
Bears at the 31. Little more than 2 minutes left in the half.
1/10 - Sayers for 5.
2/5 - Livingston for 11 at the 2 minute warning.
1/10 - Sayers for 4.
2/6 - Incomplete
3/6 - Bukich picks it up. 10 to Bull to the Jet 39.
1/10 - Bukich to Johnny Morris, 6 yards.
2/4 - Bukich -- going deep -- deep strike -- Morris -- TOUCHDOWN BEARS -- With a minute left in the half, Halas dials up the big shot -- Bukich hits Johnny Morris for the 33 yard score and the Bears take the 7-6 lead.
Jets start at the 18. They'll connect on a big play - Namath 40 yards to Maynard - but can't get beyond that and a punt ends the half.
Third Qtr Bears 7 Jets 6
Jets have largely been the better side, but the Bears held them to FG while hitting a big play just before the half to take the lead.
Bears start at the 20.
1/10 - Bull is stopped.
2/11 - Sayers gets 5.
3/6 - It's Mike Ditka's first reception, 9 and the first.
1/10 - Sayers gets 2, illegal motion on the next play backs them up 5.
2/13 - Bukich finds Morris -- Morris scored at the end of the half and it's 15 here, Bears at their own 43.
But that's it - 3 plays net 2 yards. Earl Christy with the nice return - and the Jets take over at their own 46.
1/10 - Snell gets 13.
1/10 - Namath to Boozer for 3.
2/7 - Namath to Sauer for 13 and the Jets are at the Bear 25.
1/10 - Boozer stopped.
2/10 - Boozer gets 4.
3/6 - Namath over the mid -- Picked off By Butkus -- Butkus Intercepts Namath deep in his own end -- Butkus down at the 13 -- huge stop by Chicago - big play by the rookie Butkus -- Bears regain possession.
3 and out.
Jets start at their own 49.
3 and out.
Bears start at their own 25.
1/10 - Sayers for 5.
2/5 - Bull for 9.
1/10 - Sayers for 1.
2/9 - Last play of the quarter, Bukich to Jim Jones, 19 yards -- Chicago is across midfield, with the 7-6 lead as we head to the 4th.
4th Qtr: Bears 7 Jets 6
The Butkus pick is the big play of the quarter, Bears still with that 7-6 lead and now they have a first down at the Jets 41.
1/10 - Livingston for 5.
2/5 - Bukich to Joe Arnett, 5 and the first.
1/10 - Sayers for 2
2/8 - Incomplete
3/8- Bukich to Morris...he's close to the sticks....measurement.....First Down. This NY crowd now starting to get nervous - they're down a point, Bears are at the NY 21 yard line with a first down.
But that's all. 3 plays net 2 yards. And then LeClerc......missses the short FG and the Jets regain possession.
3 and out. The Jets don't have a first down since that Butkus pick.
Bears at the 35.
3 and out.
Jets at the 18. 6:37 to go. Down 7-6.
3 and out. The Bear defense has just gone into full lockdown mode and now the Bears regain -- and in good field position at their own 42. 4:26 left. Ball and the lead.
1/10 - Livingston for 13. There's a false start on the next play.
1/15 - Jon Arnett for 5.
2/10 - Sayers for 1.
3/9 - Bukich goes downfield -- Gordon - Big Home Run -- 35 yards -- Halas doesn't run the ball on third down - he takes the shot and Bukich hits it -- 35 huge yards and just before the 2 minute mark it is 1st and goal for the Bears, already up 1. Big, big, big play.
1/goal - Sayers gets 2. 2 min warning.
2/goal - Bull gets 3. Jets have to stop the clock. Bears at the Jets 3. So, 3rd and goal at the 3 yard line. Here it is.
3/goal - Give to Arnett -- Bears push -- push -- Arnett is Going Into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN BEARS -- Arnett follows the Bears line into the end zone - there's less than 2 minutes left in the game and it's an 8 point Chicago lead, 14-6.
Jets deep in their own end at the 15.1:45 left. Down 14-6. The Jets do not have a 4th quarter first down. Can Namath find enough magic to get a score - get a 2 pt conversion - and force OT?
1/10 - Draw play. Bill Mathis. 9 yards and out of bounds.
2/1 - Namath looking deep. Home run shot. Sauer. Caught! 36 yards, Namath to Sauer -- Jets using their second time out at the Bear 40 yard line with 1:21 left in the half, Jets have 1 timeout remaining.
1/10 - Namath to Snell - Snell in open field -- Snell heading to the sideline - Snell has a 16 yard pickup and it out of bounds at the Bear 24 yard line with a little over a minute remaining.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 - Namath. Maynard -- First down - 12 yard pickup -- Jets use their final timeout at the Chicago 12 yard line! 40 seconds remain in the football game. Jets at the Bear 12, trailing 14-6.
This Shea Stadium crowd is so tense - so tense -- willing Namath to find these last 12 yards.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Namath - End Zone -- Maynard TOUCHDOWN JETS....TOUCHDOWN JETS....TOUCHDOWN JETS.... Namath to Maynard, 12 yards and it is 14-12.
Jets line up for the 2 point coversion, only 19 seconds left in the football game.
Namath going play action - fake to Snell - Namath looking end zone -- Namath firing -- Sauer --- CAUGHT! CAUGHT! CAUGHT! Joe Namath to George Sauer -- it is 14-14, it is 14-14.
The Bears will get a big catch, Bukich to Jones for 33 and stop the clock at around midfield - but a Gerry Philbin sack ends regulation.
OT: Jets 14 Bears 14
Namath drives the Jets 85 yards in less than 2 minutes, then converts the 2 pt play, and we head to sudden death - remember, it is sudden death rules - first score wins.
Bears win the toss. They start at their own 38. Nice Sayers return.
3 and out.
Jets start at their own 35.
1/10 - Snell for 3.
2/7 - Big sack -- Joe Fortunato levels Namath, it's an 8 yard loss and it is third and 15.
3/15 -- Namath - scrambling - finds Lammons -- Caught -- Lammons has a first down -- Lammons with a 25 yard gain and the Jets are in Chicago territory - Jim Turner starts warming up the leg. Shea Stadium is quaking.
1/10- Give to Snell. He Breaks it -- Matt Snell up the middle -- Snell goes 27 yards and the Jets are at the 18! The Jets are at the Bear 18! First Down!
1/10 - Give to Boozer - Boozer --- Boozer breaks a tackle - EMERSON BOOZER'S GONNA SCORE! TOUCHDOWN JETS! TOUCHDOWN JETS! TOUCHDOWN JETS!
18 yard Emerson Boozer run to the endzone and the NY Jets defeat the Chicago Bears 20-14!
Final: Jets 20 Bears 14
Chicago had an 8 point lead with less than 2 minutes remaining and the Jets at their own 15 yard line -- Namath did it - the Jets drove down and scored, then got the 2 point conversion - the defense forces the 3 and out in OT and then the Jets just mow their way into the endzone - Emerson Boozer caps it off and NY will head to Pittsburgh in rnd 2 to face the '75 Steelers.
Namath: 16 for 27, 261 yds, 1 TD/1 INT
Bukich: 13 for 22, 218 yds, 1 TD
Snell: 15 carries, 79 yds
Sayers: 19 carries, 47 yds
Maynard: 4 catches, 78 yds, 1 TD
Morris: 4 catches, 62 yds 1 TD
Player of the Game: Joe Namath
