1981-12-27 AFC Wildcard Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets

[@scooteragnew9248]

One of the great NFL games of all time...

[@jcalene]

I went to this game! I remember we got into the stadium late, near the end of 1Q, and things sounded bad on the radio. They were worse by the time we got to our seats. At halftime it was bleak for the Jets, and we figured the worst (typical Jets, we were used to it then). But - the Jets came back - and it was down to the very last play. They were right there - they should have taken the game. Todd thew the int right to the Bills player (I don't remember who it was) - there was no one near him - or so it seemed then. It was almost like a balloon popped... that was it. Great video thanks for posting!

[@WaltGekko]

I was also at this game. I remember the Jets and NFL had to get permission from New York State to allow this to be a noon kickoff as the old "Sunday Blue Laws" forbade sporting events from starting in New York State before 1:05 PM because the Catholic Church had a MUCH greater say in stuff like that in those days (back then, the NFL would if both games were in cold weather sites unless one was in Denver or the Pacific Time Zone move the kickoffs up to Noon and 3:00 PM out of ironically concern of fans attending the games as you didn't yet have the kind of cold-weather gear you do now that allows for games to be played outdoors at night in the cold). That law would be changed a few years later following an early 1984 spill in the final race of a Sunday program at Aqueduct (which had a 1:05 PM first post with the last race being run around 5:00 PM) that was run in semi-darkness that caused a horse to die because the jockeys could not see that well. I left after the game looked hopeless wanting to get home in time for Giants-Eagles, which was a 3:00 PM kickoff. I was on the 7 train back to Manhattan where someone actually had a portable TV with them and everyone was watching the game on a little 5" set and knew what happened.

[@A_YouTube_Commenter]

Scott Dierking was wide open but Bill Simpson intercepted him.

[@bryanburnap4537]

The entire 81 playoffs were insane !!

[@howardcosell2022]

SO TRUE!

[@greedyd5524]

8 ints between the 2qbs. Damn

[@Fitnesspro]

Nice to See now HOF JOE KLECKO and the NY SACK EXCANGE in action!!!!

[@albionrolltime7189]

This was my first NFL game I ever went to

[@WaltGekko]

This was the only playoff game the Jets ever played at Shea post-merger. The Jets and the NFL had to get permission from New York State to allow this to be a noon kickoff as the old "Sunday Blue Laws" forbade sporting events from starting in New York State on Sundays before 1:05 PM because the Catholic Church had a MUCH greater say in stuff like that in those days (back then, the NFL would if both games were in cold weather sites unless one was in Denver or the Pacific Time Zone move the kickoffs up to Noon and 3:00 PM out of ironically concern of fans attending the games as you didn't yet have the kind of cold-weather gear you do now that allows for games to be played outdoors at night in the cold). That law would be changed a few years later following an early 1984 spill in the final race of a Sunday program at Aqueduct (which had a 1:05 PM first post with the last race being run around 5:00 PM) that was run in semi-darkness that caused a horse to die because the jockeys could not see that well.

[@howardcosell2022]

Same 'blue laws' applied with the Baltimore Colts. It was unfortunate that this was the only post-season game at Shea because the rowdy home crowd at Shea would have given the J-E-T-S a distinct home field advantage. Visiting teams would have encountered "Escape from New York" vibe

[@WaltGekko]

@@howardcosell2022Actually, in Baltimore's case, that had more to do with neighborhood groups who worried about people getting to and from church if a game started before 2:00 PM ET. That law in Baltimore actually was changed in early 1984 but the Colts moved to Indy before any games could take place at the time. The groups who were worried about 1:00 PM games in Memorial Stadium eventually were proven right as to WHY they didn't want games there kicking off before 2:00 PM when the Ravens played home games there in 1996 and '97 before their current stadium in Camden Yards opened for the 1998 season. The New York State blue laws only really affected that one Jets game, as normally, they just were not allowed to sell alcoholic beverages until kickoff at 1:05. The playoff game was the exception because the NFL in those days didn't want at that time to have games in cold weather running to 7:30 PM local time or later as a rule because winter clothing was not anywhere near as advanced as it is now.

[@CraigSmithII]

It seemed like ALL the teams in the NFL as far as offenses goes always lined in Pro Split Back formations.

[@howardcosell2022]

This was before the West Coast offense caught on. Split backs caused the defense to play the pass and not to bunch up the box because the RB's were going out on pass patterns

[@atlasking6110]

Things were very different in the passing game back when *everything* wasn't pass interference.

[@eddielamboy8359]

If there was one thing Todd could do better than Namath, was to throw Ints. He single handedly cost the Jets this game.

[@breakmylegs7294]

Who in Gods name was he throwing to on the last play, why didn't he just throw it away

[@howardcosell2022]

Not true. Namath had a 5.9% to Todd's 5.3% interception rate with the Jets. Namath couldn't get New York into the playoffs after the merger and that is why Todd is notable about interceptions during the playoffs

[@bensantiago4557]

Interception Bowl

[@Fireyninjadog]

The bills and jets traded blowouts in the regular season. 31-0 bills in Buffalo, and 33-14 jets in Shea

[@rushrush1209]

The old Shea Stadium which had terrible drainage. Kickers of today are much better caliber than they were back then.

[@Ray-jr8vt]

This was the first year we had season tickets. We would scalp tickets here and there beforehand. Don’t know how they got Shea stadium ready for this game after we tore the stadium up beating the packers to clinch the week before. Great game even though we lost. The stadium was about half full or empty by the time Todd threw that fateful int. Kept season tickets till Kotite screwed things up , to put it lightly.

[@howardcosell2022]

Should have never moved away from Shea

[@goblinzl1]

bill simpson made that final pick. he had good career and played well in postseason games. this was painful to watch as a jets fan. what else is new. bruce harper fumbling that opening kick didnt help. though richard todd almost brought them back he failed like he always did. if i remember mickey shuler was hurt most or all of this season but played in this game and did well.

[@Phantasm2Cuda]

This was a great game I've got it on DVD

[@kenjohnson1788]

Do you have any more games. on DVDs 1980 1981 1982 1983

[@Phantasm2Cuda]

@@kenjohnson1788 I've got the playoff game against the Chargers from 80

[@brandonohara4865]

Really??? Dude if you can make me a copy and send it to me so I can send it to my mother who is a huge Bills fan I will literally pay you

[@Phantasm2Cuda]

@@brandonohara4865 I've got the divisional game against the Jets from 81 also

[@brandonohara4865]

@@Phantasm2Cuda yeah so you have this game versus the Jets and what other game on DVD?

[@CallAnExorcist_1]

Subpar game of Joe Ferguson, he toss 4 silly interceptions. He was a great QB

[@Armis71]

That Ferguson walk and towel hanging on his pants was a trademark!

[@howardcosell2022]

Typical Joe. He was either on or off but not both in the same game

[@SheltonWalden]

Richard Todd STILL STINKS!!!

[@breakmylegs7294]

He personally lost the sugar bowl, Ozzie Newsome was wide open, he threw it short, all he had to do was put some loft on it and he would of won a National Championship

[@A_YouTube_Commenter]

Still better than Zach Wilson.

[@steven2212]

It's like they threw the game. You have got to wonder, so many turnovers.

[@smitskee]

This happens often with Jet teams. Even as recently against the Bills in 2015, when they blew their chance to make the playoffs on the last game of the regular season. They were the better team, playing good football, with a lot on the line. Once again, the Jets cannot rise to the occasion when it counts. In this 1981game, the Bills were solid, but the Jets were better, and playing better at that point of the season, getting the Home Game. They got in the hole way early, and came up short.

[@joedimaggio6261]

@@smitskee same old Jets. The Jets always look for ways to lose.

[@spinner9057]

The Bills and Jets in a playoff game lol

[@Phantasm2Cuda]

You must be pretty stupid Buffalo has been in plenty of playoff games including two of the last three years

[@rebelsoul5980]

Bills went to 4 straight super bowls in the 90s, buffalo has plenty of playoff victories as a franchise. You must be 15!!

[@small_ed]

@@rebelsoul5980 Those 4 Super Bowls aside, the Bills deserved the championship in 1980. They were better than the Raiders, but apparently the gods of the NFL had other plans.

[@scottspencer1914]

Sam and Josh will meet in playoffs soon !

[@giorgiogazzola5972]

Not this year....

[@OCinBuffalo]

Perhaps, if Darnold is playing for the Bears....or wherever he lands after this year's draft.

[@Phantasm2Cuda]

Lolol. Josh will be playing in playoff games not darnold

[@breakmylegs7294]

You mean Zach lol