Anyone remember the 1970 game at Shea in the snow? The Jets (minus Namath and Snell, but with the AFC's top defense) were beating Oakland 13-7 with time for one more play. Lamonica dropped back and threw a prayer toward the end zone. Earlie Thomas should have simply batted the ball down, but instead went for the interception. The ball dropped through his hands, bounced off his knee pad and over his head into the hands of Warren Wells in the endzone for a Raider touchdown. Blanda's PAT sealed the win for Oakland. That loss ended the Jets' slim playoff hopes. What a heartbreaker!
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvRz1ackpUc[/YOUTUBE] Other clips from that game are avilable by clicking the links on the right at the link below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvRz1ackpUc
One of my favorite Jet moments over the last 43 years, was the bomb and then the last second TD pass both to Maynard to win the AFC Championship game in '68...:jets:
Ah, yes. The Joe Namath to Don Maynard bomb that helped the Jets win the 1968 AFL title game was voted the #2 greatest pass in NFL history. Had Maynard not been knocked out of bounds immediately after catching the ball, it likely would have ranked as #1. In the previous series, a Namath pass was intercepted by Oakland's rookie cornerback George Atkinson. Atkinson returned the interception all the way back to the New York five yard line before being slammed out of bounds by Namath himself. Namath later commented, "Hell, if I'd known they were gonna score on the very next play, I wouldn't have bothered." When the Jets got the ball back, trailing 23-20, Namath went right back at Atkinson. His pass found George Sauer for a ten yard gain at the New York 42. In the huddle Namath called two plays contingent on what the Oakland defense showed him. If the defensive backs played loose, the Jets would run a short pass route. If they played up close, Maynard would run a "go" route. Fearing another quick out pattern, Atkinson and Willie Brown lined up close. Maynard streaked down the right sideline as Namath arrowed the ball through Shea Stadium's swirling, gusting wind. Maynard caught the ball over his shoulder and was bumped out of bounds at the Oakland six. Fifty-two yard gain. Raiders assistant coach John Madden estimated that from where Namath released the ball near the left sideline to where Maynard caught it near the right sideline, that pass traveled 75-80 yards in the air. The game-winner came on the next play when Namath found Maynard in the back of the endzone. And that's the way it was December 29, 1968.
Great clip. It's great to see Chris Ward drive that juicer Alzado back five yards from the LOS before he completely loses his shit and gets a fifteen yard penalty. Where's Raiderjeaux when you need him?
