Super Bowl III – New York Jets vs. Baltimore Colts

One of the most famous upsets in NFL history came in Super Bowl III when the New York Jets, led by charismatic quarterback Joe Namath, defeated the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. The Colts were considered one of the greatest teams in NFL history, having finished the regular season with a record of 13-1 and sporting one of the league’s best defenses.

Despite being 19.5 point underdogs, the Jets came out firing on all cylinders and took an early lead. Namath, who famously guaranteed a Jets victory before the game, threw for 206 yards and helped lead his team to a 16-7 upset victory. This game is often cited as the moment when the AFL finally established itself as a legitimate rival to the more established NFL.

Super Bowl XLII – New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

Super Bowl XLII featured another memorable upset as the New York Giants defeated the undefeated New England Patriots. The Patriots, who had gone 18-0 in the regular season and playoffs, were seeking to become the first team in NFL history to complete a perfect season.

The Giants played an aggressive and physical game and were able to disrupt Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, sacking him five times and holding the high powered New England offense to just 14 points. The Giants scored a late touchdown to take the lead and held on for a 17-14 victory, denying the Patriots a perfect season and cementing their place in NFL history as one of the greatest upsets of all time. This game also featured the infamous “Helmet Catch” which is one of the greatest catches of all time.

Super Bowl XXXVI – New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams

In 2002, the upstart New England Patriots faced off against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. The Rams were no doubt the favorite, having finished the regular season with a record of 14-2 and boasting one of the most potent offenses in NFL history, you might know them as the “Greatest Show on Turf”.

The Patriots, were led by second-year quarterback Tom Brady and came into the game as double digit underdogs. However, they were able to keep pace with the Rams as the game was tied 17-17 in the final minutes. Brady then pulled out his late game heroics and led the Patriots down the field to kick a field goal as time expired. It completed one of the biggest upsets in NFL history and launched the beginning of a dynasty that would go on to win six Super Bowls over the next two decades.

2010 Divisional Playoffs – Seattle Seahawks vs. New Orleans Saints

Let’s now go back to 2011, when the Seattle Seahawks pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent NFL history. They defeated the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in the divisional playoffs. The Seahawks, who had finished the regular season with a record of just 7-9, were huge underdogs against the potent Saints offense.

The Seahawks played a nearly flawless game, using a strong running game powered by Marshawn Lynch and timely passing to keep the Saints defense off balance. They also forced two critical turnovers and scored on Lynch’s memorable long touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the upset victory. The win propelled the Seahawks to the NFC Championship Game and showed that anything can happen in the NFL playoffs.

Super Bowl XXXII – Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers

In Super Bowl XXXII, the Denver Broncos faced off against the defending champion Green Bay Packers. The 13-3 Packers were the favorites and had one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks at that time in Brett Favre.

However, the Broncos, led by running back Terrell Davis, were able to control the game with a dominant running attack that kept the Packers defense off balance. Davis rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns, earning Super Bowl MVP honors and leading the Broncos to a 31-24 upset victory over the Packers.

2001 AFC Championship Game – New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2001 AFC Championship Game featured another memorable upset by New England. In this matchup the Patriots defeated the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers who had one of the NFL’s best defenses.

The Patriots did not care about the underdog status as they were able to limit Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart and force three crucial interceptions. Many forget, but this was the game Drew Bledsoe came in on relief of Tom Brady to lead them to a 24-17 victory.

These upsets show that anything can happen in the NFL, no matter how heavily favored a team may be. From underdog victories in the Super Bowl to unexpected playoff runs, these upsets have cemented their place in NFL history. While these games may be few and far between, they serve as a reminder that in the NFL, any given Sunday can change the course of history.

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10. 49ers Goal-line Stand (Super Bowl XVI)

The San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals met in Super Bowl XVI at the Pontiac Superdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The slightly favored 49ers, led by Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, and Ronnie Lott, put together a goal-line stand in the third quarter that stands out as one of the all-time great Super Bowl moments.

After Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson failed to get in the end zone on first down and Pete Johnson lost a yard on second down, Anderson tossed the ball to Charles Alexander who, on a missed route, was brought down by Dan Bunz to force fourth down.

9. Lynn Swann’s Bobbled Catch (Super Bowl X)

Lynn Swann had just four receptions for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X against the Dallas Cowboys, but they were four of the biggest receptions in Super Bowl history, going for a total of 161 yards and a touchdown. The most memorable of the four receptions stands out as an all-time great Super Bowl moment.

In the January sun at the Miami Orange Bowl, quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a long pass down the field to Swann who somehow came down with the 53-yard reception after a bobble. Though the 64-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was longer, the bobbled catch is even more memorable, standing out as one of the most improbable catches in NFL history.

8. Vince Lombardi’s Last Game with the Packers (Super Bowl II)

Super Bowl II between the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders at the Miami Orange Bowl wasn’t one of the more competitive games in Super Bowl history, with the Packers taking a quite easy 33-14 win. But it is one of the most memorable games in NFL history because it was the final game Vince Lombardi would coach for the Packers.

In a moment forever secured in NFL history, the Packers carried Lombardi off the field after securing the win over the Raiders. The legendary coach would be stricken ill and die untimely just two years later in 1970 at just 57.

7. Jackie Smith’s Drop (Super Bowl XIII)

Jackie Smith is one of the NFL’s all-time greatest tight ends, as well as one of the all-time greatest Cardinals. His Hall of Fame resumé comes entirely on the merits of his St. Louis Cardinals career. However, his one season with the Dallas Cowboys provided the moment that is perhaps most attached to his NFL career.

In a Miami Orange Bowl Super Bowl rematch between the Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Roger Staubach attempted a pass to a wide open Smith in the end zone in the third quarter. In an uncharacteristic turn, Smith dropped the ball, killing a sure touchdown for the Cowboys. It’s long been said that Smith expected the ball to be thrown by Staubach in his usual manner, but Staubach, seeing how wide open his target was, decided to loft it to him. Regardless, the moment lives in Super Bowl history.

6. Patriots Comeback (Super Bowl LI)

The largest comeback in Super Bowl history happened at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas in Super Bowl LI. Whether you see the comeback as a testament to Tom Brady’s greatness, an all-time great halftime adjustment, or an epic collapse by the Atlanta Falcons, the game is one of the most memorable Super Bowls ever played.

With the score 28-9 in favor of the Falcons at the start of the fourth quarter, the New England Patriots rattled off 19 consecutive points to tie the game and set it to overtime. After Brady hit James White, Danny Amendola, and Chris Hogan to get the Patriots down the field, a pass interference call would put the team in the red zone. On a pitch to White, the most improbable win in Super Bowl history was cemented as he scored the final touchdown.

5. Titans Just Short (Super Bowl XXXIV)

At the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, the Tennessee Titans gave the “Greatest Show on Turf” all it could handle. Led by the warrior Steve McNair, the Titans just wouldn’t go away. The high-powered St. Louis Rams were on the ropes as McNair led the Titans offense down the field one last time late in the fourth quarter.

As the clock stood at six seconds remaining in the game, McNair and the Titans had time for just one more play in an attempt to tie the game. A final pass was completed to wide receiver Kevin Dyson who had darted across the middle of the field to get open. Rams linebacker Mike Jones wrapped up Dyson, as the receiver reached out for the end zone and came up just short of the goal-line as time expired.

4. James Harrison’s Interception (Super Bowl XLIII)

Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida was the sight of one of the greatest Super Bowls in NFL history. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals exchanged a number of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history, one of which was James Harrison’s goal-line interception return for a touchdown.

Harrison intercepted a pass from Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner to take away a Cardinals touchdown, returning it 100 yards for a touchdown just before halftime to increase the Steelers’ lead to 17-7. At the time, it was the longest play in Super Bowl history.

3. Larry Fitzgerald’s Touchdown (Super Bowl XLIII)

Again, during Super Bowl XLIII, one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history took place. This time, Larry Fitzgerald provided the moment on a 64-yard touchdown catch from Kurt Warner to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game 23-20 with under three minutes to go in the game.

This moment was massive, as it appeared the Cardinals may have been on their way to winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history, their only championships coming in the pre-Super Bowl era of the NFL. It didn’t happen, of course, as the Steelers would go down and score on a game-winning drive that provided yet another list-worthy moment.

2. Helmet Catch (Super Bowl XLII)

Then-University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona was the site of the famous “helmet catch” by David Tyree to lead the New York Giants to victory over that season’s thought-to-be-unbeatable New England Patriots, who had gone 16-0 in the regular season. Eli Manning’s escape from pressure to make the pass was perhaps equally as improbably as the catch itself.

The Giants’ victory was over a Patriots team favored by double digits. In fact, the Giants didn’t even win their division during the regular season. All of this adds up to one of the ultimate David vs. Goliath stories in professional sports history.

1. Joe Namath’s Guarantee (Super Bowl III)

Super Bowl III at the Miami Orange Bowl remains the biggest moment in Super Bowl history. Charismatic New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath’s guarantee of victory over the seemingly superior Baltimore Colts was one of the gutsiest, some might say stupidest calls in professional sports history. Nevertheless, the 19.5-point underdogs pulled off the impossible.

The game was also huge in changing perceptions around the game of pro football. At the time, it was believed that AFL teams stood absolutely no chance against NFL teams, having been beaten badly in the first two Super Bowls. The brash, confident Namath laid waste to that idea, on his way to 206 passing yards, an MVP performance, and what is still the greatest moment in Super Bowl history.

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By: Andy Davies

The New York Jets have a new quarterback. BYU’s Zach Wilson was taken second overall by the franchise in this year’s draft. Three years after trading up to get Sam Darnold at number three, the Jets have a new quarterback to pin their hopes on.

Getting a franchise quarterback has been a struggle ever since the departure of Joe Namath, winning Super Bowl 3 but failing to make the big game again. Darnold’s failure and subsequent trade to the Carolina Panthers is just another example in a long list of struggles at the position. 

Can Zach Wilson be the man to change this? Let’s take a look at a list of starting quarterbacks to have started at least ten games for the Jets during the Super Bowl era and whether Wilson can succeed in the NFL.

Joe Namath (1965-76)

Namath was the first Jets quarterback of the Super Bowl era and still stands as the best in franchise history. He was the starter when the Jets shocked the world by beating the Baltimore Colts 16-7 in a game that would change the history of the sport forever. In the first officially named Super Bowl, the Jets went into the game as massive underdogs before the team from the AFC beat the team from the NFC for the first time. This showed the entire sport that both conferences can beat each other and the league has never looked back.

Al Woodall played during Namath’s absence when he threatened to retired but during his time with the Jets, Namath was both the passing yards and passing touchdowns leader in the 1972 season. He also won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 1974 and had his number 12 jersey retired by the organization. He threw for 27,057 yards and 170 touchdowns during his time with the Jets, a career that saw Namath inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

As well as being a great player on the field, Namath was also known for his character off the field. As well as his infectious personality which saw him often spend time with women on the night before games, ‘Broadway Joe’ was an important figure for the NFL. It is not a surprise that the Jets have struggled to find anyone since with both the personality and ability of Namath.

Richard Todd (1976-83)

Namath left the Jets in 1977 for the Los Angeles Rams and his successor was Richard Todd, the sixth overall pick in the 1976 NFL Draft. He was taken by the Jets, who intended for Todd to replace Namath. Todd’s idol growing up was Namath and he spoke of what the experience was like playing alongside his childhood hero. 

“I thought it was great. It was very cool to hang out with Joe, watching his leadership and how he played. I hoped the Jets would let Joe be my tutor for four years but it didn’t work like that”. 

Todd is third in total yards recorded by any Jets quarterback in franchise history, with 24,386 yards and 110 touchdowns. However, Todd also had 138 interceptions, a 42-51-1 record as a starter and was at times booed by fans. He did guide the Jets to the AFC Championship during the 1982 season, a year after losing in the Wildcard Round to the Buffalo Bills. Todd would face a quarterback battle against Dan Marino and he vastly struggled. At Miami’s Orange Bowl, Todd was sacked four times as well as throwing for five interceptions and going 15-of-37 on his completions. He would last just one more season for the Jets before being traded to the New Orleans Saints. 

Pat Ryan (1978-89)

Joe Walton took over as Jets head coach during Todd’s final season and decided to start Ryan, who went 281st overall in the 1978 NFL Draft. Ryan didn’t start a game until Walton gave him the opportunity in 1984, where he started eleven games. This was his one true season as the Jets’ QB1, but threw for just 1,939 yards, 14 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the 1984 season and only started eight more games in the remaining five seasons of his Jets career. He did get the chance to lead the Jets in the playoffs during the 1986 season, where he took over from the benched Ken O’Brien. Ryan threw three touchdown passes as the Jets beat the Kansas City Chiefs before they lost to the Cleveland Browns in overtime in the Divisional Round.

“I was in disbelief and there was no suggestion it was going to happen. I didn’t play a lot but when I did, I did a fairly good job”, Ryan said when discussing replacing O’Brien.

Ken O’Brien (1984-92)

O’Brien was the starter in 1984, before the aforementioned benching for Ryan during the 1986 season. Only Namath has thrown more passing yards for the Jets than O’Brien, who was a two-time Pro Bowler and the NFL passer rating leader in 1985. He recorded a total of 24,386 yards, 124 touchdowns and 95 interceptions during his time with the Jets but failed to win a playoff game in two attempts at a starter (). O’Brien has since spoken of his time with the Jets.

“Things didn’t go the way they were growing and I wish we had done things better, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying”. 

Browning Nagle (1991-93)

Nagle had just a 3-10 record as a starter, recording 7 touchdowns and 17 interceptions during his time with the New York Jets before a more successful career in the Arena Football League.

Boomer Esiason (1993-95)

Esiason was traded to the Jets from the Cincinnati Bengals, who received a third-round pick in exchange. Despite winning the Most Valuable Player award with the Bengals in the 1988 season that saw them go to their second-ever Super Bowl, Esiason’s numbers began to drop. He recorded 20 or more touchdowns in 5 of his first 7 NFL seasons before a disappointing final two seasons with Cincinnati, recording 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 1991 along with just 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 1992.

The decline continued into his time with the Jets, with a 15-27 record as a starter. Unfortunately for New York, it appears that the Jets picked Esiason five seasons too late.

Neil O’Donnell (1996-97)

Despite being a Pro Bowler in 1992 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, O’Donnell was traded to the Jets in 1996 in the offseason after throwing three interceptions in their Super Bowl 30 loss to the Dallas Cowboys

During his two seasons with the Jets, he posted an 8-12 record as a starter, throwing for 3,943 yards, 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.  In an article on Jets Wire back in 2016, O’Donnell was named the Jets’ worst ever Free Agency signing, although Le’Veon Bell may give him a run for his money if the article was written tomorrow. 

O’Donnell never worked out in New York,  but the Jets soon got a good replacement through the facility doors. 

Vinny Testaverde (1998-03, 2005)

Testaverde came to the organization late in his career but certainly made the most of it, earning one of his two Pro Bowl selections whilst with the Jets during his first season at the franchise. He left for the Cowboys but only lasted one season before heading back for a single year. 

He was part of a game in 2000 that many call the best ‘Monday Night Football’ game of all-time in an AFC East matchup against the Dolphins, where the Jets came back from 30-7 down at the beginning of the fourth quarter before bringing the scores back level at 37-37 at the end of regular time. A John Hall 40-yard field goal saw the Jets win in overtime.  It has been called the ‘Monday Night Miracle’ ever since, with the Palm Beach Post calling it a ‘Monday Meltdown’. Testaverde turned up when it mattered in this game, going 18-of-26 with four touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone. 

He recorded 12,497 yards, 77 touchdowns, 58 interceptions with a 35-26 record as a starter for the Jets and has a 1-2 record in the postseason whilst playing in New York green.  

Chad Pennington (2000-07)

Pennington is widely regarded as the second or third best quarterback in franchise history along with Testaverde. For those eight seasons he spent with the Jets after being drafted eighteenth overall in 2000 he guided the Jets to the playoffs in three of those eight seasons, despite starting 3 games or less in three of those eight seasons. He posted a record of 2-3 in the playoffs with the Jets, reaching the Wildcard Round once and the Divisional Round twice.

He won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2006 whilst with the Jets (along with the Dolphins in 2008), was both the passer rating leader and completion percentage leader in 2002, the latter in which he also won as a Dolphin in 2008.  

Only three quarterbacks have thrown for more yards as a Jet than Pennington (13,738), who recorded 82 touchdowns and 55 interceptions with a 32-29 record as a starter. 

Brett Favre (2008)

This one was a big shame. Favre is a Hall of Famer and is seen as one of the best quarterbacks of all time, with many current NFL players who idolized the former Green Bay Packer growing up. The one-time Super Bowl champion finished his career as a three-time MVP, eleven-time Pro Bowler, four-time passing touchdown leader, two-time passing yards leader and a one-time completion percentage leader. His number 4 jersey is also retired by the Packers. 

Favre announced his retirement in March 2008 before returning to the league in the same year. Despite the best attempts of the Minnesota Vikings, Favre was traded to the Jets in exchange for a fourth-round pick. In his one season at the organization, he ended it with 22 touchdowns, 22 interceptions and a 9-7 record as the Jets missed out on the playoffs.  Favre told the Jets he was retiring before he was cut by the team. 

He then decided to join the Vikings, where he reached one of those eleven Pro Bowls in 2009. Favre had a 12-4 record as a starter that season as well as throwing for 33 touchdowns and 7 interceptions as Minnesota reached the NFC Championship. What could have been. 

Mark Sanchez (2009-12)

Sanchez was taken fifth overall by the Jets in 2009 and reached the AFC Championship in his rookie season, albeit recording 12 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He would also reach the same stage of the postseason a season later. However, Sanchez never had the numbers despite an improvement in his sophomore year that saw him record 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The 2010 sophomore year saw Sanchez put himself in the history books by becoming the first quarterback to beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on the road in successive weeks. Only Joe Flacco managed this achievement after Sanchez. 

After his first two seasons, Sanchez failed to make the postseason again in his career, recording 12,092 yards as a Jet as well as 68 touchdowns and 69 interceptions. He is best known nowadays for one play that took place on Thanksgiving in 2012 against the New England Patriots, which is referred to as the butt fumble.

With the Jets 14-0 down on 1st and 10 around their 30-yard line, Sanchez ran into the backside of offensive lineman Brandon Moore, before fumbling the ball. This was picked up by the Patriots safety Stephen Gregory, who took the ball to the end zone to give the Pats a 21-0 lead in a game that finished 49-19 to New England. 

Geno Smith (2013-16)

A second-round pick in 2013, Smith never took his opportunity as a starter, throwing for 5,962 yards, 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions during his three seasons with New York. He had a 12-18 record as a Jets starter.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (2015-16)

Fitzpatrick is one of the more loved NFL quarterbacks, being the one Jets quarterback with a similar personality to Namath. He is a fun guy who may not have ever been consistent in his professional career, but he had one of his best spells as a Jet. Fitzpatrick may have had a 13-14 record as a starter but threw for 43 touchdowns, 6,615 yards and 32 interceptions during his two seasons.

Josh McCown (2017-18)

McCown only won five games during his sixteen games across two seasons as a starter for the Jets. He never truly got going but was more than likely a stopgap so they could go out and get a quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft. Their intent was clear when they traded up to get the number 3 overall pick. The player they picked, was USC’s Sam Darnold. 

Sam Darnold (2018-20)

Darnold came into the league with plenty of hype, with many seeing him as a potential number one overall. However, his NFL career never really took off. The Panthers trade is seen as a chance for him to resurrect his career after two head coaches in three seasons with the Jets, being caught on microphone saying he was “seeing ghosts” in a 2019 week 7 Monday Night Football loss to the New England Patriots. He threw for 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions during his spell with the Jets but failed to convince the franchise to keep him on as they went out and got Wilson. 

There are plenty of people on both sides of the Sam Darnold fence. Some feel his struggles were fully on him, whereas others feel that he will succeed now that he is playing under a promising head coach in Matt Rhule in Carolina. It is safe to say we will see the real Darnold in Charlotte, whether that is good or bad. 

Can Wilson Succeed?

Zach Wilson. Can he finally be the guy to turn the organization around? The Jets have certainly gone out to protect their new guy, by taking guard Alijah Vera-Tucker in the 2021 NFL Draft at fourteenth overall. There is plenty who feel he has bust potential, with only one of his three college seasons seeing more than 12 touchdowns thrown. In 2020, he recorded 33 touchdowns and just three interceptions. This is a great season and he certainly impressed in the combine, was that just a one-off? 

The NFL will be the true test of that and the fact he was second overall will bring its own pressure, especially in a city such as New York. Wilson’s personality appears a lot more reserved than many of the other players taken in the first round, with the Utah native needing to quickly adjust to the change of lifestyle in the big apple. 

His arm looks excellent and he looks able to scramble and make plays in a similar fashion to Patrick Mahomes. Comparing him to the Chiefs superstar is the last thing I want to do for an NFL rookie, but it is hard to ignore the similarity in his college tape. 

The Jets have struggled for too long and need something to ignite the fire back into this organization. Can it be Wilson?

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