Tag Archives: New York Jets

1997 Game 171 (Week 13) Minnesota at NY Jets

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Vikings get to .500 with win over Jets

The Minnesota Vikings went into Giants’ Stadium Sunday with a dim chance of making the playoffs as a Wildcard team this season. They have won five of their last seven games and are the outside looking into the playoff picture with a 5-6 record. Sunday’s game against the New York Jets was a must win and the Vikings delivered with a 17-10 victory.

The Vikings’ defense has been underperforming this season. They are usually among the league’s best, but this year they have failed in crucial moments in a game. Today, they delivered. Led by DT John Randle, the Vikings’ defense pummeled Jets’ QB Neil O’Donnell. They sacked him six times and held the Jets to just 281 total yards. Randle had 2.5 sacks himself.

On the offensive side, the Vikings barometer player had a good game…running back Robert Smith. When Smith has a good game, the Vikings usually win, and he had 109 yards on 18 carries in this game.

Vikings’ QB Brad Johnson threw for 206 yards on 19 of 37 passing with 2 TDs and no INTs. WR Chris Carter had five catches for 51 yards and Jake Reed had four catches for 49 yards. TE Andrew Glover and WR David Palmer had the TD receptions.

As for the Jets, they want to rely on their defense and running game. The defense didn’t get any sacks and didn’t get any turnovers, while the offensive running game mustered only 75 yards of rushing. QB Neil O’Donnell struggled with 248 yards on 19 of 38 passing. RB Adrian Murrell was held to just 69 yards.

The Vikings have a huge game next Monday Night as they host the World Champion Packers. The Vikings need this victory to have any chance at a playoff berth. The Jets, now 7-5, need a victory in Buffalo next Sunday to stay in the AFC Wildcard race.

1997 Game 171 Stats

1997 Game 163 (Week 12) NY Jets at Chicago

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Adrian Murrell & the Jets blowout the Bears

Football teams usually take on the disposition of their head coach. Last year, the New York Jets were the laughing stock of the NFL finishing with a league-worst 1-15 record. This year, under the helm of Bill Parcells, the Jets are starting to mold into what Bill Parcells wants from his football team…run the ball and play tough defense.

On Sunday, Parcells’ team played to the image of their tough coach as they blew out the Chicago Bears, 27-7, at Soldier Field behind a strong defense and a physical running game to run their record to 7-4, already five games better than last year.

Adrian Murrell is a quintessential Bill Parcells running back…tough and physical. Murrell powered through the Bears’ defense for 134 yards on 29 carries on the day. He scored two touchdowns also from a yard and 37 yards out.

On defense, the Jets held the Bears to only 192 yards of total offense. Gang Green built a wall in the running game giving up 79 yards on the ground. Through the air, the Jets were relentless pressuring QB Eric Kramer. They sacked him three times and picked him off.

The only blemish on the Jets’ day was that QB Glenn Foley went down in the first half. Before he left, he was 9 of 13 for 59 yards. Fortunately, Neil O’Donnell was ready to go and he sprang into action. He was 11 of 18 with 132 yards and a TD in relief.

The Jets are just a game back of the AFC East leading New England Patriots and are right in the thick of the Wild Card race in the AFC. Next week, the Jets host the Minnesota Vikings, while the Bears (1-10) play on Thanksgiving against Detroit.

1997 Game 163 Stats

1997 Game 141 (Week 11) NY Jets at Miami

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Dolphins sweep the Jets

Things have not been great for Jimmy Johnson’s Dolphins in 1997; however, if they played the New York Jets every week, they would have a banner year. The Dolphins defeated the Jets, 19-3, in front of nearly 74,000 people at Pro Player Stadium in Miami on Sunday to complete the season sweep of the Jets. The Dolphins beat the Jets 24-17 earlier in the year in New Jersey.

The now 4-6 Dolphins controlled the football on their way to victory. The Dolphins held a huge time of possession advantage as they ran the football 39 times in the game. The Dolphins possessed the ball 34:15 of the clock, while the Jets held it for just under 26 minutes.

The other story in the game was the Jets were without their starting QB Neil O’Donnell, who was out with a separated shoulder. Backup Glen Foley had a rough day as he was 17 of 37 passing for 168 yards and an interception. The Jets couldn’t get their run game going either. They were held to 58 yards on 17 carries.

Dolphins’ QB Dan Marino had a good day. He was 17 of 28 for 192 yards. He moved the Dolphins into scoring territory multiple times, but it seemed like when they hit the Jets’ 25-yard line, the Dolphins’ drive stalled out. Olindo Mare booted three 42-yard field goals on the day. He also kicked a 23-yarder late in the 4th quarter.

The only TD of the day was scored by running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar. He rushed 26 times for only 80 yards, but he did have the TD.

After starting 0-5, the Dolphins have now won 4 of their last five games and hope to keep it rolling against Buffalo at home on Monday Night Football next week. As for the Jets, they are still battling New England for the AFC East crown despite losing three of their last four games. The Jets are currently 6-4 and will go to Chicago next Sunday to try to get back on track. It sounds like O’Donnell may be back next week against the Bears.

1997 Game 141 Stats