Watching this game for the first time. Sort of sad hearing the sportscasters still considering Namath one of the greatest QB's in the league, if not of all time. However, this was the game that gave birth to the NEW Namath. This is the game that started him off as a simply mediocre QB for the remainder of his career. In fact, possible SUB par. Namath of the 60's and Namath of the 70's were two completely different players. I guess I need to stop watching this. The best part of this are the old commercials!
it was funny, because in order to insure high rating for the game, the nfl selected two teams to play in the first game that were not original nfl teams. the jets were afl, and the browns came from the all-america football conference of the 40's.( along with the 49ers). the nfl said they did not want buffalo in the league ( first of 3 times). both teams were mocked as inferior, except after the browns kicked the crap out of the nfl champ eagles in their first game, and the jets destroyed the colts in super bowl 3, the rest of america recognized the bullshit that passes for the sports press shilling for the established league.
This post is just inaccurate. Namath's decline began in the 74-75 time frame and coincided with the decline of the Jets as a team. It is a team game after all. Namath was injured in 70 and 71. In 71, there big things expected from Namath and the Jets and he injured his knee tackling Mike Lucci of the Lions after an interception in a preseason game. In 72 he led the NFL in TD passes and was an All-Pro. You are spending too much time with NYJUNC.
Namath threw 19 TD's in 1972. A good number, but not great. Coupled with the fact that Namath threw SIX of those TD passes in ONE game (against Baltimore). In the other 13 games, he averages ONE TD per game. Even in this "All Pro" season, he was only mediocre. I'm a big Namath fan....but facts are facts. With the dawn of the 70's came the dawn of a sub par Namath. Injuries to him and a decline in talent were certainly a factor. But Namath was never the great QB in the 70's that he was in the 60's. You can't just look at stats, Joe Willie. You need to analyze those stats too. Just looking at numbers can be misleading......And who's NYJUNC? Actually, don't even tell me. I don't give a rats ass.
You are correct, I am old enough to remember those teams. The 1972 team was 7-5 and needed to win their last two games (14 game season back then) to qualify for the playoffs. They were eliminated on Monday Night Football against the Raiders in Oakland. It was a tribute to Namath's greatness that they were in this game till the very end. They lost to the Raiders when in the final moments, the Raiders went for a 4th and inches around the Jets 40-45 yard line . The Jets D bit on a play action and Lamonica hit TE Raymond Chester all alone for a TD. Namath almost won this game on his own as the entire starting backfield, Riggins, Boozer and Snell, were all injured and couldn't play. Namath threw on virtually every down. The 1972 team had a solid offense, but ended up 7-7 because their defense couldn't stop anybody.
If I recall Namath of the 70's: 1970 - Broke wrist against the Colts, about 4th game of season. Jets record, 4-10 1971 - Tore Knee ligaments in the opening pre-season game against the Lions. He played in, if I recall, the last 3 games of the season almost pulling off an upset against the 49ers. 6-8 1972 - Played in 13 games, missing the season finale against the Browns. 7-7 1973 - Separated shoulder on the 2nd game of the season against the Colts, 4-10. 1974 - Played entire season. Crazy season, the Jets started 1-7 won their last 6 and ended 7-7. 1975 & 76 featured the washed up Namath. He was ineffective both seasons and team finished 3-11 each year. Namath was cut by new coach Walt Michaels, prior to the 1977 season.
