Sports Illustrated has put together an interesting online feature on what it calls the most disappointing teams in NFL history. There are plenty of familiar names on the list, with most of them, with one notable exception, being great teams that just got old, or collapsed under the weight of too many injuries.
Much to my surprise, there were no entries from my favorite squad, the New York Jets. So, in response to that oversight, I'd like to invite you along on my own personal trail of tears that is the history of the New York Jets, post-Super Bowl III.
1969: After easily winning the AFL Eastern Division title, the Jets hosted Wild Card entrant Kansas City at a wind-blown Shea Stadium. Just one year removed from their incredible victory over the Colts, the Chiefs defense stifles Joe Namath all day long as the Jets fall 13-7. Kansas City would go on to defeat the Raiders in the last AFL Championship, and then dump the Vikings in Super Bowl IV.
The Jets wouldn't return to the playoffs until 1981.
1980: Following back-to-back 8-8 seasons, hopes were high for this Jets squad. So high, in fact, that "Jimmy the Greek" picked them to advance to the Super Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys. Instead, the team stumbled out of the gate to five straight losses en route to a 4-12 record.
1981: Coming off the disaster of the 4-12 record the season before, the Jets seem determined to repeat that performance sputtering to three straight losses to start the season. But the team righted itself, and even briefly led the AFC East before being passed by Miami for the division title. As the top seeded Wild Card, the 10-5-1 Jets got to host the Buffalo Bills at Shea, but they soon found themselves in a deep hole. Storming back in the second half, the comeback falls short in the final seconds as Jim Simpson intercepts a Richard Todd pass in the Buffalo end zone. Bills 31 Jets 27.
1982: Qualifying for the playoffs for a second straight season, the Jets grab a Wild Card spot and start an improbable run to the AFC title game. In turn, they dispose of defending AFC champ Cincinnati and the last AFC Super Bowl winner, the Raiders, with both wins coming on the road. The Jets next faced the Dolphins in the AFC Championship, which was played in monsoon-like conditions in the Orange Bowl. Did Don Shula make sure the tarp was left off the field in order to slow Freeman McNeil? Who knows? In the end, Todd throws three interceptions, as A.J. Duhe puts the game away with an interception return for a TD. Miami 14 Jets 0.
1984: With former backup Pat Ryan at the controls at QB, the Jets jump out to a 6-2 record at the season's half-way mark, their best first half performance since the days of Namath. But in a pattern that will become familiar with Jets fans, the team drops seven of its last eight games to finish out of the money at 7-9.
1986: All is forgiven as the team starts the season 10-1, including a win over eventual AFC Champ Denver on the road. But the wheels start coming off the bus as the season is derailed by injuries, none more devestating than the loss of linebacker Lance Mehl. Somehow, the Jets limp into the playoffs as a Wild Card, and polish off Kansas City at home in the opening round. But the next week in Cleveland, the Jets blow a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, keyed by a needless roughing the passer penalty on Mark Gastineau that keeps a Cleveland drive alive. The Browns tie the score, and eventually go on to win in OT, 23-20.
1988: Everyone remembers the season-ending 27-21 win over the Giants that kept the G-Men out of the playoffs, but the Jets sabotage themselves, and the season, with a loss and a tie to a horrible Kansas City team.
1994: After a week 12 upset of the Minnesota Vikings on the road (a typical Jet-like victory), the team is 6-5 under new head coach Pete Carroll and in the thick of the Wild Card race. Up 24-21 in the fourth quarter of a game at home against Miami, Dolphins QB Dan Marino, who the Jets had passed on in the draft in favor of Ken O'Brien in 1984, fakes a spike deep in Jets territory, and then throws the game-winning TD to Mark Ingram.
The Jets go on to lose four straight games to end the season 6-10. Disgraced, owner Leon Hess fires Carroll (who goes on to win two national titles at USC), and hires former Jets assistant Rich Kotite. A new dark age begins.
1998: A magical 12-4 season and an AFC East title under second-year coach Bill Parcells is capped by a home playoff win against Jacksonville. The Jets take a 10-0 lead into halftime in the AFC title game in Denver, but the Broncos score on their opening posession of the second half to cut the deficit to 10-7.
On the ensuing kickoff, Denver kicker Jason Elam kicks the ball into the lower stratosphere where it hangs there seemingly forever before falling harmlessly to earth in Jets territory but nowhere near anyone on their return team. Denver recovers, and John Elway throws a TD pass to Ed McCaffery to put the Broncos ahead 14-10. They never look back, winning 23-10.
1999: Hopes are high after the performance in 1998, but all is lost in the first game of the season as QB Vinny Testaverde snaps his achilles tendon in the first half against the Patriots. Before handing the QB job to Ray Lucas, Parcells inexplicably turns to serial failure Rick Mirer, putting the team into a hole it can't crawl out of.
Parcells would resign after the season in favor of Bill Belichick, who bolts to get out of Parcells' considerable shadow. He subsequently wins three Super Bowls with the Patriots.
2000: The early season is sweet, as the Jets post another 6-2 mark in the season's first half, highlighted by a road win over Tampa Bay that humiliates former Jet Keyshawn Johnson after Wayne Chrebet catches the game-winning TD with only seconds left to play.
Needing just one win in their final three games to make the playoffs, the Jets still find a way to lose them all. After a 31-7 drubbing in Oakland (something that seems to happen every year), John Hall misses a late fourth quarter field goal attempt that would have sent a game against the Lions into OT. In the season's final week, the Jets took a 20-0 lead over the Ravens, only to yield 34 unanswered points and lose 34-20. First year head coach and Long Island native Al Groh quits after only one season, and takes a job with the University of Virginia. In four seasons at Virignia, Groh has gone 30-21, and won three straight post season bowls.
2003: After two straight playoff appearances under Herman Edwards, hopes are high once again for the Jets, but all comes crashing down when Chad Pennington breaks his left (non-throwing) wrist in an exhibition game against the Giants. He returns in time for a Week 8 loss to Philadelphia, but it's too late, as the Jets finish 6-10.
Now I'm sure others have felt more pain, but not many -- except those Chicago/St. Louis/Phoneix/Arizona Cardinals fans. What's up this year? Well, let's just say I haven't picked any Jets for my fantasy football squad yet this year. Stay tuned.
