I think the Cowboys collapse was quite epic, but they had been playing terrible and inconsistent football since week 6. We had a couple rough games, but we completely dominated a few teams and were on a roll until we just keeled over and died in Denver. The Cowboys' last three losses came from Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Philly.. all very good teams who made the playoffs. Our last four were at the hands of powerhouses such as Denver, SF, Seattle, and Miami.. and that isn't counting Buffalo. We were considered among the best in our conference, being "the team to beat" and there was a lot of talk about Jets even going so far as the super bowl. No one, however, considered the Cowboys a superbowl candidate, ever, even when they were playing their best. You can argue that all teams have epic collapses, but how many teams do it regularly for 40 years?
1. Testaverde - Achilles injury 2. Namath multiple injuries 3. Mud Bowl 4. loss to Denver in '98 afc championship game 5. Gastineau late hit on Kosar in Cleveland playoff game 6. 1986 collapse 7. Doug Briens 2 missed fgs 8. Leahy FG vs Pats in '78 cost us playoffs 9. Simpson int in '81 playoffs 10. Bellicheck spurning
Honorable mention, Parcells brain fart vs Lions having Leon Johnson HB option pass to end zone on short side of the field...idiot!
My worst memory has to be the Vinny Testaverde achilles injury. I was sitting in front of my tv for the season opener, ready for a great year for the Jets. At the end of the pregame show I was watching, I think all but one analyst picked the Jets to win the Super Bowl. I was pumped, finally the Jets may really do it. Then Vinny goes down, and its all over. Another season of Jets misery.
The Misery is never ending One people mention but forgot was the Wildcard game against the Bills in the 1981 season was the first winning season and first playoff appearance since 1969. BRUCE HARPER FUMBLES THE OPENING KICKOFF!!! Jets rally back after being down 24-0 but lose 31-27 as Todd gets intercepted deep in Bills territory with 10 seconds left. I still to this day am more bothered by Harper' s fumble than the INT
I was just about to make this exact post. Home game at shea -- was it the year after losing to the 'Aints (or two years). Came all the way back and had the ball on the 10 or so. Threw it right to him.
It was a fairly meaningless game, but did anyone mention the 6-3 loss to the Colts? I think that was the first season in the Meadowlands. Many familiar with the game say it was the worst football game ever.
No -- but look back -- and youll see 9-5; 9-6; 6-3 many to the colts -- in bad weather -- in games the jets should have won and needed.
11/11/84 Final Score Colts 9 Jets 5 First Downs Colts 11 Jets 7 Rushes/Yards Colts 57/153 Jets 24/78 Passing Yardage Colts 50 Jets 65
Namath breaking his wrist in the pre-season game (against the Lions?) sucked royally. I was looking for what year that was and came across this extensive namath interview. i skimmed it- looks like a great read. http://www.americanprofile.com/article/4548.html
Regarding Namath injuries: 1969 season playoffs- Jets lose playoff game to Chiefs 1970 season - wrist 1971 - Knee - 1st exhibition game vs Lions, the Jets were still good on both sides of the ball. Should have been a playoff year. 1972 - Namath healthy, Jets 7-7..they lose a critical game vs Oakland late in the season. Yhe Jets offense was very good but the D was on the decline. 1973- Namath goes down early in the season with a seperated shoulder. 1974 - Jets win there last six or seven games and finish 7-7. 1975 there is talk of super Bowl. 1975 - Jets O line cannot protect Namath anymore, Joe takes brutal hits all season. If you are old enought to remember the Namath years you would note that Joe was hardly EVER sacked up to that point, do to good protection and a his quick release. 75 would have to remain on my list as being the begining of a lost Jets franchise for some years to come. Quick other Joe point, I can not stand a few of these so called experts who disrespect Joe regarding his stats ( one good game etc) I did a study comparing him year by year to the other qb's in the league from 1967 - 1974. Whenever Joe played he was, one of the leadres if not the leader in passing yards, touchdowns etc. It was common in the AFL to throw interceptions becuase these were the days of the bomb. Take a look at stats all time, called "yards per completion." You will seee no modern qb's on that list. I'm rambling now, my point is this "trip down memory sewar", as someone quoted was cathartic and there have been more bad moments than good but life has a way of evening things out. Great article and video from the link above my post! good to see old Joe..He did it!
^I got that one, Champ, on the first page. Do you remeber Boozer into the line 4 times? Why not Snell? why not a pass? They would have beaten the Vikings, I'm sure of it. The begining of the end of success for this franchise.
Yep coulda, woulda, shoulda & yes it was also the beginning of the descent into the dephts of whale poo where we still are sorry to say
I'm 20 years old so mine are not as deep as yours 1. 1998 AFC Championship Game 2. Vinny Injury 1999 3. Parcells Leaving 4. 2008 Melt Down 5. Chad Pennington Broken Wrist 2003 (Ruined the Season) 6. 2004 Playoff Loss to Steelers 7. Kotite Years 8. 2005 Chad Pennington Injury 9. 2000 Melt Down 10. 2002 Playoff Loss to Raiders
