Tag Archives: New York Jets

1997 Game 206 (Week 15) Indianapolis at NY Jets

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Jets get back into playoff contention!

The New York Jets corralled the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Giants Stadium with a 32-17 victory to get themselves back into AFC playoff contention as they fight for a Wildcard position.

The Jets got a huge performance from their defense. They shut down the Colt rushing attack and held them to 56 yards on the ground. Then the Jets harassed QB Jim Harbaugh all day long. They sacked him three times on the day. (They actually sacked him 7 times, but the sack/int rating took away four sacks).

The Colts made a game of it late in the 4th quarter. Harbaugh hit WR Sean Dawkins for a 2-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 25-17 with 7:15 to play. Then the Jets went on a long drive that seemed to ice the game away. Kicker John Hall set up for a 37-yard field goal to put the game away, but the snapper sailed the ball over the kicker’s head and went out of bounds 32 yards back, and the Colts got the ball at the +48-yard line with a minute to play.

Harbaugh quickly moved the Colts into scoring position. On a third down and goal from the Jets’ 7-yard line, Harbaugh tried to force a ball into Marvin Harrison. Jet’s DB Otis Smith stepped in front and took it to the house sealing the game with a 100-yard INT return! Smith closed the door and the Jets won 32-17.

Jet’s running back Adrian Murrell had another outstanding day. He carried the ball 27 times for 124 yards and a touchdown. O’Donnell still hasn’t thrown an interception yet this year in 387 passing attempts. He was 11 of 28 in the game for 150 yards and a touchdown to Keeshawn Johnson.

The Jets and the Seahawks are tied (9-5) for the final spot in the AFC Wildcard race; however, the Jets have a one-game lead in conference record, so if the season ended today, the Jets would get the final spot. They’ll have to play great football in their final two games to keep that spot as they host the Buccaneers next weekend and then close out the season at Silverdome in Detroit.

The Colts (4-9) have now lost five in a row and will take on the Dolphins at the RCA Dome. Then they will end the season on the road against the Vikings.

1997 Game 206 Stats

1997 Game 187 (Week 14) NY Jets at Buffalo

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O’Donnell takes down the Bills in a heroic final drive

With 3:13 left in the 4th quarter, the Buffalo Bills kicked a field goal and took a 19-14 lead Sunday afternoon at Rich Stadium. The New York Jets and QB Neill O’Donnell took over at their own 20-yard line with the Bills’ mafia rocking the stadium and the Jets needing a TD to win the game.

O’Donnell, who has been hot all year long, began a methodical drive that took them to the Bills’ 32-yard line with just a minute to play. On 4th and 12 and the game on the line, O’Donnell stood in the pocket and delivered a strike to WR Wayne Chrebet, who was tackled at the Bills’ 4-yard line, giving the Jets new life.

After RB Adrian Murrell was stuck for no gain and O’Donnell threw incomplete, the Jets were forced into another pressure situation on 3rd and goal. This time, O’Donnell threw a pass to the corner of the end zone and hit was hauled in by WR Jeff Graham for the game-winning four-yard TD catch with 15 seconds remaining! The Jets failed on their two-point conversion and led 20-19. The Bills tried one last gasp bomb and it fell incomplete giving the Jets the victory.

O’Donnell finished the game 24 of 41 for 208 yards and 3 TDs. He worked the underneath coverage the entire game and it paid off on the final drive. O’Donnell now has the NFL record for the most consecutive passing attempts without an interception.  He has thrown 359 passes this season without an interception. O’Donnell has completed 55% of his passes for 2,237 yards with 12 TDs and no interceptions.

The Jets hold one of the AFC Wildcard positions at 8-5. They will host Indianapolis next week and then Tampa Bay the week after. They will finish the season with a big-time game at Detroit. As for the Bills, they are now 4-9 and will travel to Chicago next weekend.

1997 Game 187 Stats