In my tortured existence as a New York Jets fan, truly “great” moments have come few and far between. The franchise has provided one sustained run of contention since I've been an adult, and, tragically, is more closely associated with historic bloopers and varying degrees of incompetency rather than excellence and winning.
But! That doesn't mean the Jets franchise hasn't produced five great moments worth revisiting. We can get to five…right?
5) “LET'S GO GET A G*DDAMN SNACK”
Spare me a personal pick here. Rex Ryan—from his introductory press conference—provided a deep well of quotable brashness during his tenure as head coach, peaking with this iconic moment from Season Six of HBO's “Hard Knocks.”
Obviously, Ryan couldn't sustain the act, and his the back half of his Jets run (featuring Tim Tebow), his failed Buffalo Bills stint, and some other developments have soured the charm for some in recent years. But, to his credit, he had the Jets on the verge of the Super Bowl two years in a row with Mark Sanchez under center, temporarily turned the franchise into a marquee landing spot for free agents and accomplished veterans, and made the Jets one of the league's most relevant, entertaining, and best teams.
This season of Hard Knocks was an all-timer, and the “Snacks” speech perfectly encapsulated Rex Ryan and the era he presided over.
4) Jets Defeat Colts, 41-0, 2002 AFC Divisional Round
Ahhh, yes, that time Herman Edwards and Chad Pennington delivered Peyton Manning the most lopsided playoff defeat in modern NFL history. Despite sneaking into the playoffs with nine wins (after starting 1-4), the Jets proved their playoff mettle by disrupting Manning (147 yards, two INT) in the Meadowlands. Pennington hurled three TDs, while LaMont Jordan ran for two. This game is notable for another reason: it was the league's first playoff game featuring two black head coaches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2HJQMcaBC4&feature=emb_title
3) “CAN'T WAIT” Game, Jan. 16, 2011
Undoubtedly the biggest and most surprising Jets victory of the 21st century—and possibly since the no. 1 moment on this list. Ryan's squad avenged their infamous 45-3 drubbing on Monday Night Football in Week 13 at the hands of the New England Patriots, as the 11-5 Jets would return to the scene of the crime, in Foxborough, and take down their bitter rivals in the AFC Divisional Round.
Sanchez came up clutch in his fourth(!) playoff road win, throwing for three TDs and no picks. The team's Ground and Pound attack and Ryan's aggressive defense—enabled by Prime Darrelle Revis—produced a bold 28-21 win and the group's second straight trip to the AFC title game. Bart Scott couldn't wait.
2) “Monday Night Miracle”, Oct. 23. 2000.
Entering the fourth quarter of this prime AFC East matchup, the 5-1 Miami Dolphins were rolling the 5-1 Jets, 30-7, as most the fans in the Meadowlands were already heading to their cars.
Then, over the next 15 (game) minutes, Vinny Testaverde ushered one of the most improbable comebacks in NFL history. The Jets scored 23 unanswered points and 3o points overall in the final frame, and eventually prevailed 40-37 in overtime. Testaverde tossed for 378 yards, five TDs and three INTs, while Wayne Chrebet (2 TDs) and Richie Anderson both eclipsed 100 yards receiving.
To this day, it remains the second-largest fourth-quarter comeback of all time, and the largest comeback in franchise history. I'm sure everything was super chill in the Vegas sports books.
1) Namath's Guarantee, Jan. 12, 1969
Super Bowl III. Still amongst the NFL's most iconic moments.
After guaranteeing victory over the vaunted, heavily-favored Baltimore Colts of the NFL—led by the great Johnny Unitas, Namath's boyhood hero—”Broadway Joe” put on a show.
Namath backed up his words by going 17-28 for 206 yards, while Matt Snell rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown, earning MVP honors. Originally 18-point underdogs, the Jets won 16-7. It remains the franchise's lone championship and the largest upset in Super Bowl history.
The image of a victorious Namath running into the tunnel waving his triumphant finger has endured as one of the most famous images in the history of American sports.
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