1968 AFL Championship Jets vs Raiders

[@ravenken]

This is a perfect example of why football is so famous today. These films captured the emotions of a very physical game and made it accessible and enjoyable. Thanks to the Sabols.

[@144wychwood]

Yep, these NFL Films are what made me fall in love with NFL in mid 70s.

[@johnrambo7630]

Thanks goes to Lamar Hunt and the AFL. The NFL was 3 yards and a cloud of dust prior to the merger with the AFL. The AFL and its players were playing a style of football that heightened the excitement of pro football!

[@t4texastom587]

R.I.P. Don Maynard 🏈 #13 Mr. AFL God bless our pro football heroes from a by-gone era.

[@chucklagana]

He was so nice to me at the game. He made fun of me because I wanted to see Johnny Unitis. LoL. He said Hell son. Your on the wrong side. He's over there. But we're gonna win young man. Same accent. Like he was from Texas.Vurly Johnson was the funniest guy in the team on the sidelines. I was 9 years old. Been a Jets fan ever since. 54 years not

[@chucklagana]

I was 9yeats old and my dad worked for NBC and we sat or stood on the Jets sideline for Superbowl 3. I kept asking where is Johhny Unitis? Don Maynard walked over to me and said. Heyvtherw sin. You on the winning side little man. You see that man over there. Pointing to Joe Namath. That's the man right there. Your on the winning side. I've been a fan ever since. In 64 years old and never changed my loyalty ❤

[@billmalone5050]

The Oakland Raiders of the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s remind me a lot of the Dallas Cowboys of that time. Oakland lost Super Bowl 2 to the Green Bay Packers in the 1967-68 season. Then they lost two consecutive AFL Championship games in 1968-69 and 1969-70 and then lost the very first AFC Championship game in 1970-71 after the AFL merged with the NFL. The Raiders lost 3 consecutive AFC Championship games in 1973-74, 1974-75 and 1975-76. The Oakland Raiders finally won their first Super Bowl, Super Bowl 11 against the Minnesota Vikings in 1976-77. They lost another AFC Championship game the next year in 1977-78. Dallas lost 2 consecutive NFL Championship games to the Green Bay Packers in 1966-67 and 1967-68 and two divisional playoff games against the Cleveland Browns in 1968-69 and 1969-70. The Cowboys lost Super Bowl 5 to the Baltimore Colts in 1970-71. The Cowboys finally won their first Super Bowl, Super Bowl 6 over the Miami Dolphins in 1971-72. Dallas lost two consecutive NFC Championship games in 1972-73 and 1973-74 and they lost Super Bowl 10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1975-76. Dallas won its second Super Bowl, Super Bowl 12 against the Denver Broncos in 1977-78. Oakland had to deal with the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs when they were in their late 1960s AFL prime and then had to contend with the Miami Dolphins.and the Pittsburg Steelers in their 1970s prime plus an unexpected rise of the Denver Broncos in 1977-78. The Cowboys had to deal with the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns of the mid and late 1960s and then face off against the Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams of the early to mid 1970s.

[@travb705]

@billmalone5050 the sad thing is those two great powers never played each other in a Super Bowl. Would have been a great matchup.

[@gtrDan1963]

Though Super Bowl III is the more celebrated game due to it's historical significance, this 1968 A.F.L. Championship is the more heated contest, as the mud and bitter cold at Shea made conditions more challenging ; Namath gets a dislocated finger midway through, but still toughs it out ; Lamonica throws for 400 yards and still loses ; Maynard makes one of the greatest catches of the 1960's, which today would undergo 10 minutes of coaches' challenge review ; it would also be on this play where Maynard pulls the hamstring muscle which caused him not to get a single catch in S.B. III ; Down-in-the-mud, brutal defensive play... now THAT's football ! Don't forget the "Voice of the A.F.L." Charlie Jones on the narration ! Would love to see this whole game, but thanks for posting this highlight film. Thumbs up !

[@huskyjerk]

Good stuff, Dan Sullivan. Very compelling game. There are few today that are as compelling .

[@algee8415]

I remember that Super Bowl different than what it was. Probably because of the upset probably because of Namath. Viewing it it now I fell asleep watching it. And I wasn't tired.

[@mikethomas5231]

Dan Sullivan:👍👍👍👍🍺.

[@herbpetrillo163]

Agree this was the super bowl

[@vegasraiderspetef9883]

that fumble looked in bounds that maynard had stripped,charlie smith was useless in that cow pasture field

[@thankfullycraig6954]

Watching these old highlights is so much fun. They take me back to when I was a little boy and I would excitedly sit and watch the NFL films highlights. Love the music! lol

[@adamdorgant9454]

I know Right!!!

[@rpc717]

The drum-heavy jazz music in the first half was heinous, but the rest made up for it.

[@ABDOSPIANO]

Greatest football game ever played at Shea and the beginning of a Jets-Mets-Knicks trifecta!!!

[@johnharrington1800]

The Jets were the first New York team to ever win a league championship at Shea Stadium.

[@videosuperhighway7655]

Damn that field looks like a WW I battle field. Man so much excitement in games back then.

[@adamdorgant9454]

You’re right about that!!!!

[@waltermameli2026]

The real Super Bowl was in 1968.....Jets and Raiders at Shea Stadium in Flushing.....Old Time Football.....Nasty, cold, wet.....

[@jerryferko8309]

shea stadium was so very memorable because of games like this . CLASSIC ! BETTER THAN A CLASSIC !!

[@davegeisler7802]

The game should have been played in Oakland . Thr Raiders were 12-2 and the Jets were 11-3 , the stupid NFL had that alternating site rule every year so we had to go to Shea , which was bs

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!!

[@ANTHONY0808able]

@@davegeisler7802 Yup which was why undefeated Miami had to play the AFC championship game in Pittsburgh in 1972. RIDICULOUS !!

[@Steve915]

I remember watching this game on TV. It’s still one of the best football games I’ve ever seen. No one threw the deep ball better than Joe Namath....that pass to Don Maynard in the 4th quarter was amazing.

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

Maynard told Namath before that series of plays "I've got a long one if you need it" meaning he could beat Atkinson if the Raider cornerback came up to the LOS on bump and run coverage. Namath saw it, audibled and got a 52 yard gain.

[@davegeisler7802]

I hate to admit as a Raiders fan but you are correct sir ! , yes I still remembered that game , I was only 6 at the time. Atkinson was getting constantly beat on routes by Don Maynard .Now in George Atkinsons defense he was a rookie and had to replace Kent McCloughan ( was out with a knee injury ) either him or Willie Brown would be matched up against Maynard ( both cornerbacks were excellent playing bump and run coverage ) Tough spot for Atkinson to be in against a great receiver like Don Maynard.

[@davegeisler7802]

@@RAYGERVATO if only !! 🤩, Nobody threw the ball like Namath , except maybe Marino ( a close second ) ?

[@waltermameli2026]

There is a Legend that Don Maynard once raced a deer off a football field when he was a teen in Texas.....the legend says he won.....

[@jimanderson7648]

@@RAYGERVATO if Joe would of played with all these rules changes his stats would of been 2 to 3 times as good

[@KC13O3]

Cold weather, dirt and muddy field, blistering winds...lot of players on BOTH teams sporting short sleeves. Hard hitting, no complaining. Classic AFL!

[@carlitosortiz2870]

I remember playing rough tackle football no equipment in these same conditions, just dirt no grass

[@adamdorgant9454]

You’re right about that!!!

[@Xlc_Royal17]

This game describes how an intense playoff game should be.Closest game to this was probably Dolphins vs Chiefs last year but it wasn’t that good tbh

[@AI_Image_Master]

That's what football should be. I understand that today's players are incredible athletes and their skills today are off the charts, but the game is not the same. Perfect indoor conditions, no mud, throwback uniforms, thursday night uniforms, thursday night games, seat licenses.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!!

[@Xlc_Royal17]

EXACTLY WHAT IM SAYING.People often talk about the players being soft but I disagree it’s definitely the commissioner not allowing these players play in real football conditions.

[@DavidSilva-fq7nt]

First time I've seen this game. Cold, grass, dirt. My kind of game.

[@scarletmacaw]

I just purchased the nicest example of this game’s program on eBay for $200. Extremely difficult to find these in this condition, with a beautiful purple front cover. I used to attend all of the home Jets and Mets games at Shea and lived only about 20 minutes away from there.

[@donwert5039]

I have hundreds of magazines in that era for sale

[@frogger1952]

Wow. I would love to have a copy of that game's program. I was 16 at the time and vividly remember listening to Merle Harmon call the game on WABC radio as the telecast was blacked out in NY. Then I watched the replay of the game when NBC TV re broadcast the game after the 11PM news. Since NBC erased over the videotape, that game in its entirety is gone forever,

[@eboknows9812]

Maynard's efforts were even more impressive given he was dealing with a hamstring injury, which would hamper him in the subsequent Super Bowl wherein he mainly served as a decoy on passing plays. RIP.

[@MrFrankCamp]

Incredibly, this game was blacked out in the NY Metropolitan television market because of the black-out rule for home games in effect at that time. Can you imagine blacking out a league championship game in the Home Team’s television market? Thanks for posting this game so we can see what we missed.

[@frogger1952]

I remember that so clearly. The only time I saw this game was when NBC4 in NY ran a tape delay broadcast at 12 midnight.

[@MagSeven7]

Incredible to think this game was blacked out in NY. I remember listening to the Jets or Giants games on the radio because we couldn't watch them on TV if they were home. I also believe this was a time, before the merget, during the regular season if the Giants and Jets both played at 1pm and were on TV, we didn't get a 4 o'clock game. By 4, our football day was over!!! No such thing as a national broadcast back then. This was also the year of the "Heidi" game between the Jets/Raiders.....ahhh, the good old days!

[@fritterfoof5146]

Miami was 14 - 0 in 1972 and the Divisional game against Cleveland Browns was blacked out In Miami .

[@MagSeven7]

@@fritterfoof5146 It's crazy isn't it how times have changed? I remember as a kid being happy listening to games on the radio with some great announcers. I even remember listening to Ali/Norton fight at Madison Squiare Garden on the radio! Showing my age.

[@kingfish4242]

We can all thank Richard Nixon for helping change the Blackout rule

[@rpc717]

What a fantastic game! It's easy in retrospect to say any of the top AFL teams could have won the Super Bowl that year, but it's hard to appreciate what an incredible feat that really was. There was no interleague play, so there's no way to compare how teams really stacked up. The only benchmarks were two previous Super Bowls that were both blowouts. The AFL came a very long way in a very short time.

[@michaelgasiciel9317]

Kicking that FG with 6:30 left would have made things interesting!

[@jtcbrt]

I still have my ticket stub from this game.

[@panchosvilla]

Jim Hudson and George Sauer had played together on the Texas Longhorn football team that defeated Joe Namath's #1 Alabama team in the Orange Bowl. Fantastic game in which Texas sneaked in Jim Hudson as quarterback, and he threw a 69 yard touchdown pass to George Sauer to put Texas ahead, a lead which they never relinquished the rest of the game. Then all three players wind up as Super Bowl champs on the Jets team against the Colts.

[@manticore2580]

Wow! Great information!

[@christophermcclave6337]

That was the game at the very end when Namath did a QB sneak at the end zone and video replay clearly showed he broke the plane. But the referee blew the call and said he did not get in. Should have been another Champ-ship for the Bear.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

@@christophermcclave6337 That is very distressing. As an Arkansas fan, that means Arkansas' true championship is tainted. What a bummer. Alabama did not get its' first official win against Texas until a few years ago.

[@mikeforte7585]

The Jets had a harder time with the Raiders than they did with the Colts..in the Super Bowl..

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

agree

[@5552-d8b]

This was more of the super bowl to the jets

[@5552-d8b]

Also that jets defense was underrated. Verlon Biggs was a mean sob. Larry grantham a hall of fame talent. Jim Hudson was great in his short career. Jets defense averaged giving up less rushing yards then the 85 bears

[@farmasyst]

@@5552-d8b Gerry Philbin 's name would be in the same category as Deacon Jones and Bubba Smith if he had played in the NFL. Was a much better all-around player.

[@5552-d8b]

@@farmasyst phibin definitely. He held the franchise single sack record until joe Klecko and mark gastineau. Phibin was the best on the line but I found Verlon Biggs to be the most most feared vicious player I’ve ever seen. Not just the sack on lomanica in the afl championship game but in his career I watched him hit players with a vicious style of play where he wanted to kill everyone. There’s a reason he was nicknamed dirty Biggs. Philbin was faster and smart. Verlon was slower but had more awe. John Elliot is the other worthy name of cherbet to wear number 80. Elliot had big bad John for a reason. At nose tackle he was fierce

[@Tommy-76]

The 1968 season was the first one where NFL Films shot AFL games as part of the merger agreement

[@marcmclane281]

Joe Namath made a great shoulder tackle / out of bounds shove. ...at the 4 yard line....the guy couldn't believe it. ..

[@davidfisher462]

That tackle Namath made on Atkinson to me was the play of the game even though the Raiders scored....that put confidence back to the Jets knowing they can beat these guys.

[@hollywoodjoe123]

I was at this game for free with cousin Carl and a friend Pete Donofrio - At Shea Stadium , Flushing , New York we jumped the fence - !

[@raybarger8119]

Loved watching the AFL when I was a kid

[@phmoffett]

Thanks for posting this video. Incredible game. Wonderful memories. Thank You!

[@adamdorgant9454]

I know Right!!!!

[@TheSteveSteele]

Don Maynard said this game was his Super Bowl. The Raiders vs Jets was a sweet rivalry back then.

[@adamdorgant9454]

You’re right about that!!!

[@Primus54]

For the younger generation out there watching this and then perhaps Super Bowl III, this was an era when quarterbacks called their own plays based upon a game plan and what they themselves observed on the field. Occasionally coaches would send in plays, and QBs would make adjustments on the sidelines when not on offense, but during the heat of a drive they called the game. According to Namath’s autobiography, during Super Bowl III, he called the majority of the plays at the line of scrimmage based upon what the Colts defense showed him.

[@aarondigby5054]

Today's players aren't discipline enough to play from the line of scrimmage, qbs calling their ownbplsys, like the guy for KC recently lining up in the neutral zone costing KC the game and sending Mahomes into a tizzy

[@bernieudo4399]

Respect for Namath. Cold weather; boiling heat. Didn't matter since this man could play anywhere under any condition. Wins on a ripped up field & at home. Boss!

[@deeely7176]

To me Joe Namath is the best Quarterback & he will always be my favorite . When he got injured in games he still played . This AFL Championship Game & the Superbowl is the best . No one can throw the football like Joe Namath . When they won both games I was so happy . I loved Joe since the 1960s & I still do , will always love Broadway Joe 🏈💚❤

[@adamdorgant9454]

Namath was a great Quarterback in his own right!!!!

[@michaelalbertson7457]

My favorite memory of Namath was being stopped on a QB sneak from the Texas 1 yard line, when he played for Alabama in a bowl game, losing 17-13 on 1-1-65, giving Alabama their first defeat, while Arkansas went undefeated, beating Nebraska 10-7, becoming the true national champion for the 1964 season. He was one of the best QBs I saw play, though. The Jets were not good at all before he got there. They started out as the N.Y. Titans.

[@lloydkline1518]

❤️ Broadway Joe Namath: AFC first superbowl winning quarterback ; first 4000 yard in a season quarterback; legendary career at Alabama / coach bear Bryant etc etc

[@bernieudo4399]

@@lloydkline1518 Realize it was maverick AFL that promoted passing game; NFL not worthy of Namath. Even by '72 NFL still low scoring. QBs didn't enjoy protection until late '70s, when stakes higher. WRs finally let loose by '77 & QB # s soared. Even by '72 Namath & Kilmer led NFL w/just 19 TDs. Just amazing to see where game's now. Namath ahead of his time. If only he were drafted by Green Bay. (Lombardi commented a Namath with discipline would've been the greatest)

[@kenross1634]

A great game, reminds when my parents were alive, the genuine excitement over the lateral

[@adamdorgant9454]

Agreed!!!

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

The title sequence with that music accompanying the view of the opening kickoff, embodies the magic and majesty of NFL Films at its very finest!!!

[@adamdorgant9454]

Agreed!!!!

[@alephtav9415]

Dang I loved the AFL growing up! Check out Joe Willy’s “jump pass” @ 13:21....sick

[@phmoffett]

Why does everything have to change? The AFL-NFL was great as it was. That made the Super Bowl really "Super" - Same with NL and AL with baseball interleague play has robbed World Series mystique. And one more thing - bring back the great looking uniforms of that era - can't beat it.

[@adamdorgant9454]

@@phmoffett True!!!

[@adamdorgant9454]

You’re right about that!!!

[@davidr5961]

that was the first game i ever went to; was freezing cold and windy. i think i was wearing two pairs of thermal underwear that day; thanks for putting this up.

[@sterlinggilbert3863]

Ain't nothing like the old AFL Wars

[@jamessollazzo2966]

shea was cold in october!

[@drummerrich924]

@@smitskee Great football in those days. Mud, guts, and glory

[@drummerrich924]

@@sterlinggilbert3863 great old a.f.l. days

[@drummerrich924]

Loved watching that game on reply

[@patgalvez4563]

Many don't know that Buddy Ryan was the Jets defensive line coach....

[@jazzbassoonpaul]

This music is AWESOME!!

[@adamdorgant9454]

Yes it is!!!

[@jaynewman848]

I was at that game with a good friend. Waited all night in the Shea parking lot for SR only tickets on sale at 8AM. Stood behind the home plate end zone like sardines in the cold. What a game. I consider it the best sporting event I've ever seen in person

[@sldl04]

Smash mouth football in the mud with real men playing....unlike today.

[@projectawesome5675]

sldl04 so concussions are better?

[@osaji922]

@@projectawesome5675 you know they still do get concussions in today's game. that's something that can never be eliminated in any contact sport. get over it

[@classichost]

Actually this was a pass fest for it's time, lamonica had 401 yards passing, Namath a stout 266. And this was on that field in high winds in a stadium notorious for swirling winds.

[@johnperrigo6474]

Who plays today? Transvestites?

[@haileyshannon7548]

Okay, Boomer!

[@docsmithdc]

Don Maynard passed this week...Loved him.

[@TheCream14]

Namath had the fastest release of a football I've ever seen.

[@chucklagana]

Straight from the ear. His brother taught him from playing baseball. Throw from the ear with a quick release.

[@thomasvelazquez9789]

No Marino did

[@thomasvelazquez9789]

Boy, this really makes me remember just how close the Raiders were some awful drops and Lamonicas choking inside the 20 was costly

[@thomasvelazquez9789]

RAIDERS WERE S BETTER TEAM PERIOD!!! They blew it

[@aarondigby5054]

Joe was slinging it all over the place, the first to pass fir over 4,000yds

[@mikeforte7585]

All 3 teams that made the AFL playoffs in 1968...wood have won the super bowl...the AFL finally arrived...there is no way a team could play defense today under the present rules ..both quarterbacks took a real beating...loved Namaths tackle on Atkenson...

[@herbpetrillo163]

Chiefs woulda beaten the colts.always said that.

[@aarondigby5054]

​@@herbpetrillo163let's play the game, why did they crown Brady and the Pat's when they went undefeated during the regular season? The lucky escape from a sack by Eli Manming and tha ridiculous helmet catch from the Giant receiver, I still believe the ref should've blown Eli's play as in the grasp because Eli was definitely ITG, smdh

[@ABDOSPIANO]

The best kept secret in the history of football was Don Maynards sore hamstring in super bowl 3!!!

[@joeburns6379]

Straight ahead kickers. Namath had such a presence on the football field. He was a cultural phenomenon. Warren Wells, Ben Davidson, Gene Upshaw and George Sauer jr. ...R.I.P.

[@bertjm36]

Superb, angry game between 2 terrific teams who sincerely hated each other. Both were better than the paper tiger Colts - & so were the Chiefs.

[@brucewayne3602]

absolutely ... NFL finally embraced reality --- Bravo AFL & Jets !!!

[@keithbiggs440]

Joe was the man, some of the best football of all time.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!

[@lloydkline1518]

❤️ Broadway Joe Namath

[@sean1672able111]

I was not alive, but it was great to see the 1968 AFL Championship game. Jets-Raiders was a great rivalry in the 1960s. Joe Namath was a great quarterback, and he stepped up in the clutch. Wow, this was right after Apollo 8, in December of 1968. It sure was a tough year, 1968 was. But this was a good game to end a rough yr.

[@frogger1952]

Jets hated the Raiders especially after the Heidi Bowl 5 weeks earlier. Jets felt Raiders played not just to hit hard, but to injure.

[@aarondigby5054]

MLK & RFK were assassinated, yes 1968 was an unforgettable year.

[@skywalker39100]

Awesome AFL History!💯👏

[@adamdorgant9454]

Agreed!!!

[@jma8352]

i was their with my brother and dad freezing but very happy!

[@adamdorgant9454]

Good to know!!!

[@jerryferko8309]

these games were outstanding ! no comment on todays game , ,

[@adamdorgant9454]

You’re right about that!!!

[@jerryferko8309]

dave ....excellent point ....did not realize that .......thanks ......

[@magpatocx]

Pat Summerall RIP

[@latkagravas986]

Fascenda the Narrater, Summeral the Play-by-Player, Madden Color Commentator

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

Except in this case, Charlie Jones (long time AFL/AFC announcer) narrated the footage. Facenda would narrate Super Bowl III's highlights.

[@adamdorgant9454]

He is missed greatly!!!

[@jimmykoplin1807]

Love this Hudson os a stud !! Great stuff

[@kenross1634]

What a game. I'm from buffalo and at age 11 hated the raiders because I thought Lamonica should be playing for buffalo. Jumping up and down screaming at the lateral, hard to forget

[@thomaschevalier9356]

Excellent thanks

[@jaycompany4886]

In 68 every player on the field played like every possession might be their last....you can say than now.....even some coaches wanted to make tackles

[@jasong428]

What a great game! Go Jets! I sure hope we can win again someday....

[@richardmorris7063]

Don't hold your breath!

[@731973000]

I can say the same for my Bears... Lol..

[@aarondigby5054]

​@@richardmorris7063I believe if Aaron Rogets hadn't got hurt the first game of the season the Jets stood a good chance but Aaron Rogers was hurt on opening day.

[@adk46er5203]

Thanks for posting this game. I was a Giant fan then but rooted for the Jets a little also. This game was blacked out in NY so I still have never seen the game.

[@michaelschleifer5121]

adk46er5203 I went to the game with my father, the first year we had season tickets ($35 for 7 home games). I was 13. The game was replayed on NBC that night, but we were so exhausted from sitting out in the cold I fell asleep a few minutes into the game.

[@manticore2580]

The live broadcast was blacked out in New York. However, later that night, after the NBC 11PM local news cast had aired NBC at 11:30 PM aired the recorded replay of the entire earlier broadcast of the game. At the time I was in the seventh grade and had school the next morning but I stayed up and watched the replay broadcast which ended after 1:30 AM.

[@jamessollazzo2966]

@@manticore2580 game was played on 12-29-68. Think about it, that was christmas vacation from school, so you watched the game, as i did, and slept through the afternoon!

[@virvisquevir3320]

james sollazzo - Good catch there, James.

[@tomb4575]

The Knicks Game 7 vs Lakers was also blacked out in New York. But Marv Albert was so great on radio. The Knicks defending the 8th Avenue end of the Garden.

[@VideoCityTV]

I was at that game too with my dad, don't remember much I was 8

[@JayDogTitan]

Classic AFL.

[@adamdorgant9454]

You’re right about that!!!

[@aarondigby5054]

Maynard and Belitnikoff we're two of the best recievers I've seen play. They're were great

[@darrellwooten8677]

Yo Adrian great job finding the highlights of this game . It brought back some great memories.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!

[@jamesallen7815]

When football was football

[@ronsmac]

So true. Many mistakes,inacccurate passes, and more dirt than actual grass.

[@primateproductions126]

So True!!!!!!!

[@primateproductions126]

Don Maynard says at the beginning, the only thing that matters is winning. Whether I catch one or 10. That’s the difference in today’s game. If a wide receiver catches one instead of 10, he’s got a problem. Not enough time on SportsCenter.

[@projectawesome5675]

G V Cal so concusions are ok?

[@projectawesome5675]

James Allen so concussions are ok?

[@readytogo99]

A kick to see Fred B and Maynard 2 all-time greats

[@nickiemartin1426]

WOW 😳, these guys tackled, caught passes, defended passes, etc... I truly enjoyed watching this game. I believe I will watch an entire game from this era. I don't know who won, so it's just as exciting as a present day game. Actually, I believe it will be more exciting. I see flashes of greatness with today's games, but not that hardcore fierceness I see during this time.

[@frogger1952]

I think today's players are better athletes, but worse football players. Too much reliance on pure athleticism and less for the nuances and strategy of the game. Plus the ridiculous end zone celebrations and dances when someone catches a 15 yard down and out in the 1st quarter. Where is respect for the game and your opponent? Get off my lawn!!!

[@coachnd8139]

The conditions they played under were horrendous compared to recent decades. A different game.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!!

[@billymatthews7346]

Wonderful.....thank you...NY Jets...world champions....

[@EmpSurge]

Sad to see what's become of the Jets in the modern era. Still, it's great to revisit these older games and see how much of a different game football was back then

[@briantbethea]

I want to see the full live broadcast of this game. Also, no wonder it so windy. I miss Shea Stadium. Would love to see the Jets either play a preseason game at Citi Field or maybe one regular season game.

[@briantbethea]

@@smitskee as far as I know not yet, but it has for soccer.

[@frogger1952]

I absolutely HATED Shea Stadium. I've been to Mets games in June with the wind whipping in from Flushing Bay and freezing my butt off. Don't miss it AT ALL.

[@shawnflanagan4995]

thecjets should seriously consider moving to yankee stadium. the nfl's capacity requirements could be worked out. lots of hurdles, yes. i'd push ard for it though.

[@chucklagana]

Heidi Bowl was six weeks earlier the thia hame.

[@davidflynn7258]

Can you imagine the game was blacked out for TV in the NY area?? I can remember having to listen on a transistor radio...

[@scottbrady7499]

steve sabol, an AFL films presentation. where have i heard that before? oh, yeah: steve sabol, an NFL films presentation. alright! he did such an excellent job at the orange bowl a few weeks later.

[@lsmftymf]

Ed Sabol was in charge of both NFL and AFL Films. The only difference really was the colors of the jackets worn by its cameramen - blue for NFL, red for AFL (as shown in this film). Guessing that Steve Sabol, who probably was the only person who had both jackets, wore the blue NFL Films one at Super Bowl III, which was the reason why Joe Namath famously turned his back on him in the victorious locker room postgame. Note that longtime NFL Films cameraman extraordinaire Ernie Ernst originally worked the AFL games and was most likely easily embraced by Namath.

[@chucklagana]

Joe Namath talks about this game in his book All The Way a lot

[@shawnflanagan4995]

namath hated the raiders.

[@adamdorgant9454]

Have a copy of it, it was very good to read!!!!

[@jomic9060]

u cant change history. the Raiders from 67-77 missed the playoffs once. both formidable and unrewarding with one super bowl win.

[@vegasraiderspetef9883]

got beat by some of the greatest teams of alltimes in the 70s-dolphins and steelers

[@adamdorgant9454]

@@vegasraiderspetef9883 Yes, now that you mentioned it!!!!

[@wvu05]

And in an era where there were far fewer playoff spots.

[@jonburrows8602]

They lost to the eventual SB Champion 8 times during that span, meaning they had the misfortune to come up against some great teams. Plus, they were screwed by horrendous, historically bad calls in 1969, 1972 and 1977 that would have been overturned by replay today. Plus they were screwed by the playoff format in 1968 and 1974.

[@michaelleroy9281]

That was 1971 that they missed

[@alanstrong55]

It was the semi final season for the AFL.

[@jgowin66]

I remember watching this game on TV. In the first half, it looked like both QB's, especially Namath, were overcompensating for the gusting winds, and overthrew their targets. Note the offensive linemen, clinching their fists inward, or even holding onto their own jerseys, in the days before OL's could use open hands. Also notice the DB's popping and harassing the receivers throughout the play, not just within 5 yards of scrimmage. I loved the game back then!

[@jamessollazzo2966]

game was blacked out in ny. nbc aired it 11:30 pm on tape

[@elwin38]

The NFL was 10yrs away from changing the bump and run rule. Back then, the DB's and/or safeties could bump and harass the receiver all the way downfield. In 1978, the NFL made it illegal to harass and bump the receiver past 5yds. Today, if you bump or harass the receiver after 5yds, you get penalized for illegal contact.

[@tomb4575]

My dad went to the game I was home at a family Christmas Party watching the awful NFL Chamouonship Game Colts obliterated The Browns.

[@tomb4575]

@@smitskee The NY Knicks game 7 the was also blacked out in the NY area.

[@tomb4575]

@@smitskee lol might be why I don't mind listening to games on the radio. Marv Albert was the voice, and I miss him on radio he is the best, very good on TV but new radio was a different medium. Giacomin defending the 8th Ave. end of The Garden it's a lost art. Howie Rose w/The Mets gets it, Breen understands the difference all the old guys did too.

[@willdrucker4291]

Is that the legendary CHARLIE JONES with the narration?...at the time he was NBC’s number two AFL announcer behind CURT GOWDY...

[@williamdunphy352]

Narrated by Charlie Jones.

[@lloydkline3265]

Best NFL announcers ever

[@Tommy-76]

The game was blacked out in New York and turned out to be the only post season game the Jets ever won at Shea Stadium.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

They showed it on TV in Connecticut, Norwalk area.

[@frogger1952]

@@michaelalbertson7457 People drove to Wilkes Barre PA and rented motel rooms to watch the live telecast. I was 16 that year and was relegated to listening to the game in my bedroom.

[@michaelwilliams7907]

Johnny U would take 5-6-7 minutes marching the colts to a touchdown just like the field general he was. Broadway Joe would come out and throw a 67 yard touchdown pass to take the lead back next play. God the NFL in the 60s was BEAUTIFUL. THE OLD MEETS THE PASS.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!!

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@michaelwilliams7907, In this game, Unitas was hardly able to attempt any long passing play, his game strategy notwithstanding.

[@chadakoin1]

Man, like that groovy backbeat is totally with it!

[@johnmanier7968]

The Raiders might well have won this game if they'd tried a FG with 6 minutes left. That could've made it 27-26 Jets, and Oakland would've been in position to go ahead with a FG with 3 minutes left.

[@vegasraiderspetef9883]

they were a high powered offense ave 32ppg and back then the qb called all the plays,fgs in that slop were no bargain I bet they were hoping someone would slip and fall I would been throwing to 25 every down he had a monster game

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

The lateral recovered by Baker (51)? Raiders were at the Jets 12...the mishap occurred around the 25 when Lamonica dropped back and tried a flat pass to Smith..but it went backwards.

[@frogger1952]

Rauch felt a FG was not going to do it once Namath got the ball back.

[@mikem591]

This was an underrated game..

[@elwin38]

John Rauch's last game as Raider coach. John Madden took over the next season and Rauch went to Buffalo.

[@jeremythompson9122]

Rauch was a huge flop in Buffalo. He wasted the first 3 years of OJ Simpson's career by using the best RB in football only as a decoy. Terrible coach

[@jonburrows8602]

@@jeremythompson9122 He was. Davis made Raunch and felt betrayed and relished that he flopped in Buffalo. Unfortunately, it made Al think the same thing would happen to Jon Gruden when he let him go to Tampa after the 2001 season, and it backfired.

[@Alan-lv9rw]

Back when the Jets didn’t play in what is essentially the Giants’ stadium.

[@georgetoplenszky7062]

The condition of the field looked horrible. But That's how the game was played back then.

[@johnmanier7968]

Shea always had lousy field conditions. This was the only football championship game played there, and the Jets' only home playoff win there. The Jets lost a semifinal game to KC in 1969 and a wild card game to Buffalo in 1981 before moving to the Meadowlands.

[@georgetoplenszky7062]

George toplenszky. Shea stadium was Built for baseball not football, I remember that wildcard game in '81' .I was 14yrs old living in western N.Y. not that far from buffalo. Another cold rainy game. Bill's won 31-27 in probably one of the better wildcard games of the '80s'

[@tomb4575]

@@smitskee The lack of drainage ended Elliot Maddox's career.

[@tomb4575]

@@georgetoplenszky7062 was at that game Jets fell behind early. Key play Mark Gastineau sacking Kelly causing a fumble but instead of recovering the fumble Mark went into his sack dance Bill's recovered and drove to what was the winning TD.

[@magerted64]

I miss football like this, mud, cold, hits. The game is too sterile now, on turf and mostly inside.

[@googbingo]

The Raiders looked like they would have also beaten the Colts in Super Bowl III

[@TURTLES_FOR_LIFEEE]

I watched the Whole Super Bowl Jets vs Colts. Colts offensively dominated the game. They turned the ball over inside the Jet 20 Yard Line 3-4 Times. Should have been Colt Blow out.

[@johnmanier7968]

@@TURTLES_FOR_LIFEEE The Colts dominated the first half, but were killed by turnovers -- as was the case in their only regular season loss, to Cleveland, as well as in an unexpectedly close win at lowly Atlanta. The Jets dominated the second half. If the teams had played 10 games, the Colts probably would've won 6 or 7 times, but the Jets were much better than had been widely believed before the game.

[@bufnyfan1]

the Raiders would have beaten the Vikings the year after that in SB IV too

[@terryhawkins8191]

John Manier ikr...I loved Joe Willie.....he actually has made the Super Bowl the GAME it IS TODAY !!

[@herbpetrillo163]

@@johnmanier7968 dont agree.jets were damn good.no way 6 or 7 of ten.5-5

[@nextaxprorescuefromirsrock1191]

I saw this game. Raiders inexplicably didn't use Banasak more.

[@smitskee]

He scored the TD that put them ahead. But you're right, he got used less and less. Even going into the Merger, Madden kept him on the team, and started to use him. At one point, I thought he was gone. Good reliable player.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

I remember him for scoring touchdowns, rather than gaining a lot of yards. I always thought he was a good player.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

I remember him for scoring touchdowns, rather than gaining a lot of yards. I always thought he was a good player.

[@airforceveteran71]

So many former AFL players who should be in the HOF... I can probably name at least 25 right now.

[@frankdenardo8684]

NFL1968 New York Jets: Joe Namath, Don Maynard, Weeb Ewbank. Oakland Raiders: Fred Biletnikof, Jim Otto, Willie Brown.

[@osaji922]

@@frankdenardo8684 Gene Upshaw and Art Shell

[@johnbozzi5103]

Winston Hill #75 needs to be put in the HOF

[@FuriousMan226]

NFL1968 Winston Hill will be in this year

[@mikevanriel7573]

@@johnbozzi5103 Winston Hill has been enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

[@josepha3116]

I love the narration!!

[@adamdorgant9454]

Yes indeed!!!!!

[@docsmithdc]

It amazed me that the Colts were such heavy favorites or even favorites at all.Really ,was the Colt's offensive line as good as the Jets'.Was Earl Morral really going to beat Joe Namath.The bookies must have had a field day with this one.I am reminded of what Ali said when he was told that "the experts are picking Forman".Ali replied-"If you picked Forman you're no expert". Anyone that knew football really had to know the Jets had more than an even chance. One more thing-this was real football.Brutal.When I hear people say that Tom Brady is the GOAT well for my money,this game would have sent Mr Brady packing back to Momma.

[@wvu05]

He wouldn't have made five years in the Montana era. He wouldn't have made it one in the Namath era.

[@docsmithdc]

@@wvu05 Agreed.

[@scottodonnell7121]

There has been some speculation on the legitimacy of SB III

[@docsmithdc]

@@scottodonnell7121 Bull just more "cancel culture".I watched it live ..no doubt in my mind.

[@frogger1952]

A lot of that 17 point spread was due to the fact that no one gave AFL any respect. The following year, the Chiefs were also double digit underdogs and they ran Vikings out of the stadium in SB IV. That was final game played by an AFL team. I like that the Chiefs wear the AFL logo on their unis. All the original AFL franchises should do that.

[@davidmccann9811]

63,000 live attendance was the biggest AFL crowd to that date.

[@701CPD]

Man, that Shea Stadium field was a MESS that game!

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!

[@paavoviuhko7250]

I remember being a major Daryle Lamonica fan in those days, and Fred Belitnekoff. I hardly remember who I was cheering for in that game but I think I wanted Oakland to win. And after they lost I was all for the AFL champion. I hated the extremely powerful Johnny Unitas team too much. Great video. but not the way I remember the tv coverage.

[@rjw7058]

that bongo player>awesome

[@adk46er5203]

This game was blacked out in New York. They replayed it at 11 or 12 that night. But I have never seen the entire game to this day.

[@Steve915]

Those were the days you could never watch a home game in your own area. Sold out, regular season game, playoff game, or even a championship game, sorry, it was blacked out for 75 miles from the stadium. I lived in the SF Bay Area, and had to listen to the “Heidi Game” on the radio a few months before. In the early 1970s, a group of us would drive out of the black out zone and rent a hotel room to watch Cowboy-49er playoff games played in SF.

[@tomb4575]

@@smitskee True, his best days were behind him by the time the blackout was listed.

[@tomb4575]

@@smitskee Joe should have retired after 74 winning the final 6 games ending up 7-7. A friend and In the summer of 1980 heard a radio ad for Jets season tickets available. I drove to the NY Jets offices on 5th. Avenue with $200 cash purchased 2 Loge seats for $10 a piece 7 home games. That was the year they made the playoffs, the next year the strike year but made AFC game. The next year they have fired Michaels and drafted O'Brien, took three step backwards and moved to Jersey. I kept the tickets for two season I had moved to CT and my friend moved to California and we gave up the seats. 30 years later I got a call from The NY Jets ticket office offering to buy season tickets. They had not only blown through the season and waiting lists they were combing for former ticket holders. A few years before The Jets floated the idea of charging people to be on or keep your name on the waiting list.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

I saw this game in Connecticut, Norwalk area, but now that you mention it, usually New York home games were blacked out, not shown in my area, if they thought the game would be sold out. Never gave it a thought that day.

[@MrStradia]

Such a rough looking field.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!

[@nickyvtown]

I wasn’t born yet but if I could go back in time in the 60s or 70s it would be during football season

[@robertrowe5349]

My first year of watching professional football!!!

[@JeffreyFields-f6h]

This is more great broadcast tape that I’ve ever seen! I have been told that the game tape had been stolen .

[@adrianhorodecky5264]

I heard it was lost.

[@keithmotsinger918]

Hope some body can get the whole game,even bits and pieces like The ice bowl,and the 62 nfl game,and jets-chiefs.colts-raiders game,when it was more about the Game in my humble take.

[@elwin38]

John Rauch last game as Raiders coach.

[@ppgshook]

I see that madden was an assistant to raunch he took over in 69

[@ricogarion]

Then he went to Buffalo to see his career come to an end.

[@jeremythompson9122]

@sour airhead Maybe. But that last backward lateral the Jets recovered was lucky