Jets Defy the Odds Again, Conquer Bills

For the first time since 1974, the Jets reached .500 today, making fools of the oddsmakers for the second straight week.

The charged up New Yorkers, the second youngest team in the NFL, once again recovered a fumble in the waning minutes to position a score that led to an upset.

This was Richard Todd’s strongest game in his two seasons as a pro. The QB from Alabama (!) was hurling finely-aimed spirals and connected on 10 of 15 for a “huge” yardage total of 194. None of his passes were intercepted.

(Jets went on to a 3-11 record losing the next 7 and 9 of the last 10).

ex NYT Eskenazi 10/10/77

Jets Upset Patriots On Late Kick, 30-27

The sort of dramatic, implausible ending that can give a young team instant self-respect finally happened to the Jets yesterday before a Shea Stadium growd that alternately buried its head in its hands and leaped off its feet.

The decisive score was booted between the uprights by Pat Leahy, on a 32-yeard field goal with only 23 seconds left.

“A bunch of kids and we beat these guys. Amazing.”

ex NYT Eskenazi 10/3/77

Strong Thief Lifts Jets’ Weights

A weight lifter without his barbells is like a bagel without lox (a very New York analogy), and that is why Paul Mastropasqua is forlorn these days. M. is the strength coach of the New York Jets and someone stole 4,000 pounds of weights from the Hempstead LI camp.

“Find out who did it,” said Joe Klecko, the rookie defensive lineman, “and sign him up.” M. happens to be the smallest man in the Jets entourage. He is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 153 pounds.

In 1972 he was Mr. New Jersey and the next year finished 10th in the professional Mr. America competition.

NYT Eskenazi 9/21/77