These are my top ten greatest opening day performances for the Jets. Select which one you think was the greatest. Please don't hesitate to post one's that I did not mention (such as the 1986 opening day performance of Ken O'Brien). [table="head"]Player|Year|Opponent|Game Notes Joe Namath | 1968 | at Chiefs | Namath begins the SB III season out right with 2 TD's and over 300 yards passing in a 20-19 win over the Chiefs. His highlight bomb to Don Maynard is still shown on TV today Don Maynard | 1968 | at Chiefs | Don Maynard and Joe Namath connected on 8 passes for 203 yards and and 2 TD's including an epic 57 yard bomb. They hooked up on 3 receptions in the final drive for 44 yards including a 19 yard pick up on 3rd and 7 to seal the victory Mark Gastineau | 1984 | at Colts | Gastineau destroyed Mike Pagel and the Colts for 4 sacks in the 1984 opener. With the Jets up 16-14 late in the 4th Qtr Gastineau sacked Pagel and forced a fumble which was recovered by Greg Buttle who then returned it for the game sealing TD. Neil O'Donnell | 1997 | at Seahawks | Starts off the Bill Parcells era on the right foot going 18-25 for 270 yards and FIVE TD's as the Jets defeat the Seahawks 41-3 in a rout Glenn Foley | 1998 | at 49ers | Some might wonder why Foley is on this list. But his performance to open up the 1998 season was tremendous. He went back and forth with HOF'er Steve Young. He completed 3 passes for 60 yards to set up the Game Tying FG at the end of regulation including a 22 yard completion to Dedric Ward on 4th and 10 and a 19 yard pass to Ward on 3rd and 10 that set up the FG. Unfortunately the game ended in OT on a 96 yard TD run by Garrison Hearst, but it was still a good start to what would become a great season (albeit with a different QB running the show) Keyshawn Johnson | 1999 | vs Patriots | Despite losing starting QB Vinny Testaverde early in the game, Keyshawn Johnson gave an epic performance. He caught 8 passes for 194 yards and 1 TD. Not only did he lose his QB, he also did not have Wayne Chrebet opposite him on the field taking pressure off. The Jets lost on a last second FG but Keyshawn had a tremendous game. Chad Morton | 2002 | at Bills | Chad Morton starts the 2002 season off with a bang with not one but TWO Kickoff Returns for Touchdowns including the game winner to start OT over the Bills Curtis Martin | 2004 | vs Bengals | Curtis Martin rushes for nearly 200 yards to open the 2004 season in a 31-24 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals Jets Defense | 2009 | at Texans | The Jets defense open up the Rex Ryan era with an absolute demolition of a high powered Texans offense. The defense got 2 sacks and forced two more turnovers. They hurried Matt Schaub all day and only gave up 7 points. Mark Sanchez | 2012 | vs Bills | Sanchez starts the season off airing the ball out for 266 yards and 3 TD's. The Jets destroy the Bills 48-28 [/table]
The only reason I picked Sanchez versus the Bills is because I was at that game. Everybody before opening day was saying that The Bills was the new Patriots more or less and was hyping up the whole Mario Williams thing. Meanwhile, the Jets haven't scored a single touchdown for ANY of the preseason games, not one. But my Jets came out and represented NYC like they were suppose to! I only chose this game because I was personally their, and that Bills Jets fight was near my section too.
Good post tough Question. I will say, opening day 2012, should shut the Sanchez detractors the fuck up. Bit...probably Keyshawn. Guy was special.
Even though I'm pissed at Sanchez, I still give credit to where credit is due. I'm not a blind hater. My beef with Sanchez will never discredit the good things he has done. I still acknowledge them.
I'm way too young to vote in this poll, but I will say that last season's opener gave me such a great feeling of relief and excitement that Sanchez was finally stepping up into the level we'd hoped he would. I was sure that he proved that game that he was our franchise quarterback after all of the skepticism there had been since we drafted him. It was one of the greatest feelings I've had thus far as a Jets fan; I was yelling with joy in my dorm room like a little kid. False hope has got to be one of the worst feelings someone can experience. -Sigh-
I think you're going to see a divide between the older and younger fans here. I went with Gasty and Buttle , this game is probably the first I saw and definitely what made up my mind to become a Jets fan.
I'm not saying it's the best, but it should be in the conversation ... Browning Nagle's first ever start (against Atlanta in 1992). 21 for 37 - 366 yards - 2 TD - 0 INTs The Jets were down 17-0 at the end of the first quarter and fell short in a comeback 20-17. At the end of the game, I thought we had just seen the birth of another Joe Namath. Nope!
I'm only 22 years old so I voted for the 09 D vs. the Texans, but I would go with that entire performance. I left that game thinking we had our Coach and QB in place for the future...
It wasn't a great performance, but the most noteworthy and memorable in my 42 years of fandom was Brett Favre against Miami in 2008.
Chad Morton is the first one I remember. Sitting with my dad, he turns to me and says, something like he's going to return this and end it. Boom done
By process of elimination since this is such a difficult question. 1968 Namath- wasn't alive 1968 Maynard- wasn't alive 1984 Gastineau- my opinion is skewed knowing how that team disappointed going 7-9 after 6-2 start. 1997 O'Donnell- we missed playoffs but this game was the start top getting us back to respectability. 1998 Foley- we lost the game and Foley never won a game he started so again it skews his performance for me. 1999 Key- This may be the best considering he was catching passes from a punter and he almost carried us to the win but we lost Vinny and our SB dreams. 2002- Morton won us a game. so far it is btw Chad and O'Donnell 2004- Curtis, this one might win it. 196 rush yds, rush TD, rec TD en route to playoff year and rushing title. This is my leader. 2009 Jets D- an incredible performance, the best non playoff performance by this D in a game we were a big underdog in against a good offense. I would rank this #2 behind Curtis 2012 Sanchez- great game but the way the season went I can't put it up there. 1. Curtis 2004 2. NYJ D 2009 3. Morton 2002 This is a difficult question b/c we are jaded by the results of the season. I see '84 Gastineau but knowing we finished 7-9 skews my thinking, same thing for Sanchez last year. The Keyshawn game we lost Vinny and really our season so I can't go
haha im only 24 myself but i totally feel you on that opening game last season. i was so fucking pumped i was sure we were making the superbowl haha. then the injury bug struck and sparano was exposed (he was exposed really really quickly also haha, it only took like 4 games)
Lots of good times posted here. With exception of 99 and 12, each of these opening days had the feeling of something special brewing. Loved Curtis in 04, and the beginning of the Ryan era in 09 with Jenks and Revis hitting full stride. 97 was the beginning of the Parcells era. *Edited* For pure exuberance for me though, it is 02. Opening kickoff of OT ran straight back for a TD was a signature moment for Westhoff and Morton, and there is no more exciting play. Fueled full of beer, i think one of my friends was on my shoulders in the sports bar after that. Someone yelled 'strip club' and the party proceeded directly there immediately with no further question asked. lol, good times. we were on top of the world at least for that week.
The game that first comes to mind was the 1997 opener in Seattle (traditionally a house of horrors for the Jets). I guess O'Donnel was the QB. But what I remember is the Jets coming out in a 5 WR formation and basically sending everybody deep and Chrebet catching a TD from the slot. The rout was on!
We actually had won 2 of our last 3 in Seattle and 4 of our last 5 against Sea overall including winning at Seattle in our 3-13 season of 1995. It was more about how awful we had been and this game showed right away things had changed under BP.
