I believe he was 42 of 59 (or 60) for 447 yards. Clark Gaines (running back) had 17 or 18 catches for 160 yards. The Jets had all of six, count 'em, six points at the end of the third quarter. The Jets trailed 30-6 entering the 4th quarter. The final score was 37-27. It was a classic Elvis Grbac Performance by Todd. (Elvis Grbac Performance- throwing for, like, a whole lot of yards and stuff and not even coming close to winning the game. Drew Brees had an EGP last year when he threw for 510 yards against Cincinnati in a game the Saints lost 31-16.)
This rhetorical question is obviously about Pennington. If you want to go there and give the QB the credit for offensive points scored, Pennington's scores will be 41, 10, 20, 3, and 16. Todd's scores are 27, 37, 17, and 0. Pennington- 90 in 5 games. Todd- 81 in 4 games. Todd was probably the #1 reason the Jets lost to the Bills in the 1981 playoffs and the Dolphins in the 1982 playoffs as evidenced by his combined nine interceptions in those two games. Has Pennington ever been the main culprit in a Jets playoff loss? Maybe the Raiders game in 2002.
I remember the Jets radio announcers saying that there was a rule that the field had to be covered before the game in case of rain. It was pouring the day before and the field was not covered. There was nothing that could be done other than to play the game in the mud even though the Jets got very angry.
Richard Todd was the QB the first time I ever sat down and watched a Jets game. I thought he was the greatest and instantly fell in love with the Jets. Unfortunately, Todd and those teams scarred me for life. All in all, I cant bash the guy. As I look I think we were outcoached in many of our losses back then anyway. I guess the good thing is all of the highs and lows I experienced at an early age pretty much helped me cope with many more years of good times and hard, harsh disappointments.
How'd he sh-t the bed in every playoff game he played? In the Buffalo WC game, he played great. They lost cause they played a terrible first half, Harper fumbling the opening kickoff, etc. Todd played great that second half. He played well vs. Cincy in the playoffs and very well in the Raider game. Yes the Miami playoff game he played poorly but this isn't evidence of a guy not playing well in the playoffs. One poor playoff game in four.
He was one of the reasons they almost came back to beat Buffalo in the playoff game. He wasn't a below average QB at all. He was a Pro Bowl alternate in 1981, same year he was the Jets MVP. He wasn't mediocre at all. Like I said previously, you can't look at INT #'s like you look at them today. Different game. And I don't know whose calling him great. No one said that.
He was also the biggest reason we were down 24-0. The man threw 4 INts in that game, also threw 5 in the Miami loss- that's 9 INt in our 2 playoffs losses. This guy was most responsible for the Jets not reaching the next level. Like I said he made 1 play in that Raider game, it was a huge play but the D held on- he only led us to 14 points. you keep making points about how he led us further than Chad but if our D holds Pitt to 14 in '04 we play in the AFC Title Game(I am not blaming the D as they played really well but they gave up 17 in regulation) and as I mentioned it was Freeman who carried the O against Cincy, Todd had an INT and a TD, against LA he had 2 INts w/ a TD. Todd kept us from reaching the next level. If the Jet D holds Cle to 14 points in 186 the Jets reach the AFC Title Game, if the Jets D holds Pitt to 14 pts in 2004 the Jets reach th AFC title Game. Also, last I checked Freeman didn't run for 200+ yards w/ O'Brien and Curtis never did that for Chad. The bottom line is Todd was along for the ride, he was not a key for us reaching the title game.
He played great? the man threw FOUR INts! how the heck did he play great? he was the major reason we were down 24-0. So bruce Harper fumbling the opening KO to put us down 7-0 was bigger than Todd's 4 INts including one at the GL that would have won us the game? he played well vs. Cincy/ Freeman running for 200+ yds, scoring a TD and throwing for a TD plus darrol ray's 98 yd INT return for a TD had littl to do w/ us winning it was all the "great" play of Richad todd w/ his 1 TD and 1 INT:breakdance: and of course he played very well against the raiders leading us o 17 points w/ 1 TD and 2 INTs. It was all Richard not Freeman who had another 100 yd game or the D which on the road held the raiders to 14 pts when LA averaged 33 a game that year in the reg season and scored 27 the week before. Come on, let's gte real. Todd was a decent QB but he was not a key to us winning those 2 playoff games and he was the biggest reason we lost the other 2 playoff games.
He was also playing w/ a torn rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder and if we are giving minuses then Todd will lose alot of points from all his INTs that set up the opponents fro scores or actually returned the INt for a score.
I think they were both capable QB's, nothing special. Both had their runs when they were hot and both have fallen short.
mrjet80 - I agree 100%! Nothing was wrong with Richard Todd's physical talents. As I said, when he was good, he was very very good... ...but, as you so intelligently posted - the guy became a basket case. I don't know if it was the pressure of Namath or the bad teams - New York City or just not the right guy in the right place at the right time? Look, no one ever said Matt Robinson had more talent than Richard Todd. Robinson had that special something in that place in that time. He never panned out in Denver did he? He just clicked with the NY market and the fans and the team - and became the leader and made things happen. On the other hand Todd took the pressure and ate it all fork and spoon - and it effected everything he did. Todd could throw a perfect deep ball - and force an easy short route for an INT. He was frustrating to watch. Maybe more so because he had the talent, but not the ability to handle the pressure. You can't consider a guy GREAT or all time or ICON if he choked under pressure. Cakes said it - 4 playoff Games and 4 TD passes and 12 INT's!
but Winston, Todd had all the talent in the world and lost it mentally. Pennington uses his brains to overcome his limitations physically. I applaud Pennington for making the most of what he has, and vilify Todd for not doing so...
I agree both have their plusses and minuses and neither one is was or is good enough to over come them. If Todd had been brought around like Pennington on a good team with a coaching staff who understood his talent he may not have been as insecure and mentally weak as he often appeared. They guy took over for a legend on a crappy team and was thrown into the fire, he simply wasn't ready and was vilafied for it. In spite of that he did get it together and when he had talent around him got the team pretty far into the playoffs.
If only we could combine Pennington's mental capabilities & Todd's physical talents, we might just have a damn good qb..
In the second half of that game, he was absolutely unbelievable. Enough of the INT stuff. Guys got picked off alot back then. He led them up and down the field at will in the last quarter. And please, don't mention Freeman (who I love as a player) in that Raider game. He put the ball on the ground three times that game and was the major reason that Lance Mehl had to bail them out twice. Todd was a decent QB who had some real good moments. That I can agree with. But he was not the biggest reason they lost that Buffalo game. He wasn't. And don't underrate his play in that Raider game. He made more then ONE BIG THROW. He was very good against a big time defense. The Miami game is his down game. No doubt about that but the conditions also made it very tough on him.
Passers got picked off a lot back in Namath's days. Todd's career? Not so much. There were major rules changes before the 1978 season which made passing much easier.
I just loved those late 70's early 80's teams. Todd, McNeil, Harper, Barkum, Ray, Walker, Gaffney, Rasmussen, Powell, Fields etc..... One thing about them is that every game was exciting whether we won or not. I do believe that Todd pioneered the one glove before Michael Jackson did. He was the first QB I saw that would wear one.
It's great that he played well in the 2nd half but we aren't down big if he wasn't so bad in the first- you cannot ignore the first half and say he had a great overall game when he helped put us in a deep hole then ended the game at the Bills GL w/ a chanceto win the game. Todd was the biggest reason welost to Buf and Miami, there is no question about that. 9 INTs in those 2 games- that is ridiculous.
