New York Jets history: 1969 season

Game Six: Houston Oilers

On the Monday night following the New York Mets’ World Series victory, the Jets finally made their 1969 debut at Shea Stadium in a 26-17 win over the Oilers.

Namath (12-24; 306 yards; 2 TD; 3 Int) was inconsistent, but he managed a couple of huge plays in the second quarter to afford the Jets a 17-7 advantage. The reigning Super Bowl MVP followed up a 57-yard touchdown pass to Maynard with a 54-yard scoring strike to the future Hall of Fame wide receiver.

This contest commenced a franchise-record seven-game home stand for the Jets. The Jets had never played more than three straight home games previously, and they haven’t played more than four straight games at home in any subsequent season.

Game Seven: Boston Patriots

New York completed a head-to-head sweep of the winless Patriots, 23-17, but it wasn’t easy.

Boston, which entered the game with a 0-6 record, took a 17-10 lead into halftime, and the Jets were booed off the field (Anderson; Oct. 27, 1969; p. 59).

Gang Green responded after intermission, though, thanks mainly to Snell (109 yards; 23 carries; TD) and Boozer (67 yards; 15 carries; TD). The two running backs combined to rush for 109 yards in the fourth quarter (Anderson; Oct. 27, 1969; p. 59).

Game Eight: Miami Dolphins

In a frantic finish, the Jets clipped the Dolphins by 34-31.

The Jets used a pair of fortuitous plays in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. First, with New York at its own 22-yard line and down by 31-24, a Miami roughing-the-passer penalty on third-and-11 negated an incomplete pass by Namath (13-26; 233 yards; 3 TD; Int) and afforded the Jets an automatic first down. Two plays later, Namath found Maynard for the tying score (Anderson; Nov. 3, 1969; p. 65).

The Jets’ good fortune continued. Following a defensive stand, DT John Elliott blocked Larry Seiple’s punt to set up the winning 36-yard field goal from K Jim Turner. Regarding his block, Elliott said, “My hand happened to be in the right place, but the punter had fumbled the snap a little bit (Anderson; Nov. 3, 1969; p. 65).”

New York Jets’ quarterback Joe Namath running onto the field during halftime ceremonies honoring 1969 Super Bowl champs.

Game Nine: Buffalo Bills

The Jets improved to 7-2 with a 16-6 win against Buffalo.

Mistakes by O.J. Simpson hindered the Bills’ chances. An opening quarter touchdown was nullified because the running back was lined up incorrectly, and with the visitors trailing by only seven points in the fourth quarter, Simpson lost a fumble at midfield (Anderson; Nov. 10, 1969; p. 61).

Game 10: Kansas City Chiefs

In an unfortunate portent of things to come, the Chiefs forced five turnovers and defeated the Jets, 34-16.

The 18-point loss was the most lopsided setback for the Jets since Nov. 5, 1967, when the Chiefs handed them a 24-point, 42-18, loss in Kansas City. It was also Gang Green’s worst home loss since a 34-9 setback to San Diego on Oct. 23, 1965 (Anderson; Nov. 17, 1969; p. 64).

Game 11: Cincinnati Bengals

The Jets returned to their winning ways by crushing the Bengals, 40-7. WR George Sauer (5 receptions; 56 yards; 2 TD) and Maynard (8 receptions; 137 yards) starred in the triumph.

A major injury hampered the win. Maynard broke his foot in the third quarter, and he was lost for the remainder of the regular season (Anderson; Dec. 21, 1969; p. 1).

It was the second time in as many seasons where Maynard endured a crucial injury in a late-season affair against Cincinnati. The wide receiver suffered a nagging hamstring injury against the Bengals in week 13 of the 1968 season (Anderson; Dec. 9, 1968; p. 66).

Game 12: Oakland Raiders

Gang Green self-destructed in a 27-14 loss to Oakland.

With the game knotted at seven in the second quarter, Elliott committed a roughing-the-passer penalty to extend an Oakland drive that resulted in a touchdown. DB Mike Battle then fumbled the ensuing kickoff to set up another Raider touchdown (Anderson; Dec. 1, 1969; p. 65).

Game 13: At Houston Oilers

The visiting Jets defeated the Oilers, 34-26, to clinch their second consecutive AFL East title (Anderson; Dec. 7, 1969; p. 1). It was Gang Green’s last division title until 1998, when the Jets won the AFC East with a 12-4 record.

New York’s defense dominated Houston by inducing nine turnovers, a franchise record for takeaways in a single game. Previously, the Jets forced eight turnovers in a 48-14 win versus Boston on Oct. 27, 1968. Gang Green has enjoyed a pair of subsequent eight-takeaway affairs, most recently a 33-13 win versus the New England Patriots on Nov. 11, 1973. The Jets’ most recent seven-takeaway effort came in a 56-35 win against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 28, 2008.

Game 14: At Miami Dolphins

New York’s regular season culminated with a 10-4 record following a 27-9 victory at the Orange Bowl.

The win didn’t come without a price, however. At a pregame breakfast, team orthopedist Dr. James A. Nicholas said, “The one guy we can’t afford to get hurt is [CB John] Dockery (Anderson; Dec. 15, 1969; p. 70).”

Go figure; the Jets won the meaningless game, but Dockery, who was tied for the team lead with five interceptions on the year, separated his right shoulder while unsuccessfully diving for an interception in the first quarter.

AFL Playoffs first round: Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City, which finished second to Oakland in the AFL West, crushed the Jets’ dreams for a second straight Super Bowl championship, 13-6.

The Jets’ offense proved inept in the fourth quarter. Down only 6-3 and set up with a first-and-goal at the one-yard line, New York was forced to settle for a seven-yard Turner field goal—the goal posts sat at the middle of the goal line in the front of the end zone until 1974—and a 6-6 tie. The Jets reentered the red zone on two occasions after Kansas City retook the lead, but they failed to score (Anderson; Dec. 21, 1969; p. 1).

In what turned out to be his final playoff game, Namath (14-40; 164 yards; 3 Int) struggled.

Maynard returned to the field, but he was held to a single 18-yard reception.

Aftermath

Unbeknownst at the time, the Kansas City loss sent the Jets into a downward spiral. New York wouldn’t attain either a winning record or a playoff berth again until 1981.

Either way, the merger was about to occur, and the Jets were going along for the ride.