(It's late...forgive the wee hours side of the brain for intruding on "draft talk" with the most random of theories/oliver stoneisms.) December 6, 1998. Jets 32, Seattle 31. Vinny "scores the winning touchdown." Even before the replay was shown, I could clearly see from my seat that Vincenzo was a long yard short. In fact, when they voted to re-instate instant replay for the following season, it was THIS PLAY that decided it for everyone in the room. Now, my "theory" is this. Those who wanted Instant Replay to return, lobbied the referees to blow a big call. Seattle missed the playoffs that year and I believe they were a game shy. Big blown call, in our favor. It's a call most of us will never forget. A guilty pleasure from yesteryear.
Whatever brought it back is good for me. We needed it and don't forget not only did Seat. miss out on the PO's they lost their couch because of it but that worked in their favor. As for the PO's that year I agree with us killing the Falcons that year if we were to go but I played it on that WHAT IF..site and ATL. killed us. 35-7 or something like that.
It's funny how we got screwed in games in '93 and '97 by calls that were obvious and would have been overturned by IR but as soon as one(a very rare one) goes in our favor they revive IR. In '93 we lost by 2 at Buf and Thurman Thomas clearly fumbled before he croessed the GL which would have taken away 7 from Buf and in '97 at Det on the Leon Johsnon INt the DB was clearly bobbling it and out of bounds when he caught it. At worst we get a FG and the game is tied.
Last time I checked that boxscore, Vinny scored plain and simple. Instant replay was not part of the game back then, so I don't care what anyone says. The fact that instant replay is in the league now and they still screw up calls is even more ironic. As for those who may want to give back that touchdown, I can recite a litany of calls that the Jets have gotten screwed on over the years... The two NYJUNC cited above. Keyshawn's TD against the Redskins. A phantom first down by Marshal Faulk against the Jets as a Colt in the Hoosier Dome. Numerous BS TDs scored by the Dolphins off of pick plays...which ironically years later, Coach Shula [He of the Competition Committee] admitted were illegal. Shula not covering the field in violation of league rules. Anyway, I consider the Vinny TD only a down payment...there is still an outstanding balance to be paid.
