One element of the Jets-Colts rivalry will be front and center Sunday at MetLife Stadium and that will be the 50th celebration of the Jets' 1968 Championship Team. You know, the one that beat the Colts, then based in Baltimore, in Super Bowl III.
More than 20 members of that team will make their way to the New York area, to be honored at a Saturday night MetLife dinner, then Sunday during halftime ceremonies at the Jets' second game of their three-game homestand against the now Indianapolis Colts.
"That's a pretty good gig," current S Jamal Adams said of the planned festivities. "That's a huge honor. We'll go out there and kind of reminisce with folks. I'm excited for it."
Needless to say, the best way to reminisce is to bring the rivalry forward on the field. The Jets won that first meeting on Jan. 12, 1969 in the Orange Bowl, but since then the Colts franchise has gone 42-30 since. Now the Jets (2-3) and rookie quarterback Sam Darnold are riding high after their run past the Broncos while the Colts (1-4), led by veteran Andrew Luck, are on a three-game losing skid.
Might the Jets be in danger of overlooking these Colts?
"We won't let our guard down now," head coach Todd Bowles said succinctly, "because we don't have any guard to let down."
Here are seven more points of interest for Sunday's clash between longtime rivals (1 p.m. ET kickoff):
1. Sam's Higher Education
Darnold continued his progress vs. Denver, earning his first home victory as the Jets' QB and throwing for his first three-touchdown game. But there are more frontiers to conquer. After having two of his passes batted behind the line in his first four games, Darnold had four rejections by the Broncos, with one getting picked off. And the red zone offense needs energizing — the Jets have scored five TDs in 14 trips inside the opponents' 20, a 35.7% rate that's last in the NFL. But longballs to Robby Anderson and Terrelle Pryor take the edge off of any RZ frustrations, for now. "I feel really good, I feel confident," Sam says. "I've just got to stay consistent."
2. Line of the Week
Much acclaim accrued to Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell for Crowell's franchise-record rushing yards (219) and yards from scrimmage (231) and the Jets' home-record 323 rush yards, and all that assisted Darnold and the offense in compiling their first 500-yard offensive game in five years. But as always in games like that, the unsung heroes are the O-linemen — Kelvin Beachum, James Carpenter, Spencer Long, Brian Winters and Brandon Shell. Typically, Beachum put it all in perspective: "Those numbers are good, but at the same time we also gave up a quarterback sack and a quarterback hit. It was a great performance but there's still some things we can work on."
3. Colts' Injury Adjustments
Luck has answered any lingering shoulder questions as he leads the NFL in passes, completions and third-down conversion rate (50.6%) — remarkable considering he was without top WR T.Y. Hilton last week and could be again Sunday and probably won't have TE Jack Doyle for the fourth straight game. Then TE Eric Ebron has 26 catches and leads the team with 5 TD catches but came out of last Thursday's Patriots loss with almost as many injuries as body parts (shin/quad/ankle/knee). So Luck's fave targets could be a gimpy Ebron, WRs Ryan Grant and Chester Rogers, and RB Nyheim Hines, none of whom is averaging more than 10.5 yards/catch.
Best images of the Jets taking on the Colts.
New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath (12) drops back to pass in Super Bowl III, Jan. 12, 1969 in Miami, Fl. (AP Photo)
New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath, (12), hands off the football to Matt Snell, (41), during Super Bowl III in Miami, Fla., on Jan. 12, 1969. The Jets beat the Baltimore Colts 16-7. (AP Photo)
FILE - In this September 1969 file photo, Denver Broncos' Floyd Little avoids the tackle of New York Jets' Steve O'Neal (20) during a football game in Denver. At left is Jets' John Dockery (43). In August 2009, a month after retiring from the car business by shuttering the dealership he'd run for 32 years, Little was finally a Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee, something he had started to suspect he'd never see in his lifetime. (AP Photo/File)
New York Jets quarterback (12) Joe Namath gets off a pass under pressure from the Baltimore Colts defenders during Super Bowl III in Miami, Fla., on Sunday, Jan. 12, 1969. (AP Photo)
Quarterback Joe Namath, of the New York Jets is shown during Super Bowl III on Jan. 12, 1969. (AP Photo)
New York Jets fullback Matt Snell almost loses the ball as he is hit by Colts linebacker Dennis Gaubatz in the first quarter of Super Bowl III, Jan. 12, 1969 in Miami. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine)
New York Jets wide receiver George Sauer (83) in action during Super Bowl III on Jan. 12, 1969, at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The Jets defeated the Colts 16–7. (NFL Photos via AP)
Joe Namath, New York Jets passing Bubba Smith # 78 at the Super Bowl III in Miami Florida Jan, 12, 1969. (AP Photo)
New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath throws the ball as Baltimore Colts Bubba Smith attempts to block the pass in Super Bowl III, January 12,1969 in Miami. (AP Photo)
New York Jets Pete Lammons (87) dives as he is hit by a defender in Super Bowl III, Jan. 13, 1969 in Miami. Among the viewers of the actions the sideline is Jets coach Weeb Ewbank in the white cap at center. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine)
New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath (12) gets a pass away against the Baltimore Colts under pressure from a Colts defender, in Super Bowl III, Jan. 12, 1969. The Jets won, 16-7. (AP photo)
An emotional Weeb Ewbank, coach of the New York Jets, congratulates quarterback Joe Namath with just seconds left in Super Bowl III at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla., on Jan. 12, 1969. The Jets upsent the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts 16-7. (AP Photo)
New York Jets defensive tackle John Elliott (80) tackles Baltimore Colts running back Tom Matte (41) during Super Bowl III on Jan. 12, 1969, at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The Jets defeated the Colts 16–7. (NFL Photos via AP)
Bubba Smith (78) of the Baltimore Colts leaps in a vain attempt to block a pass from New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath Jan. 12, 1969 in Super Bowl III at Miami, Florida. The Jets won 16 to 7. (AP Photo)
New York Jets fullback Matt Snell almost loses the ball as he is hit by Colts linebacker Dennis Gaubatz in the first quarter of Super Bowl III, Jan. 12, 1969 in Miami. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine)
New York Jets quarterback (12) Joe Namath gets off a pass under pressure from the Baltimore Colts defenders during Super Bowl III in Miami, Fla., on Sunday, Jan. 12, 1969. (AP Photo)
FILE - In this Jan. 12, 1969, file photo, New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath gives his father, who is wearing an Orange Bowl hat, a big hug in the Jets' locker room after leading them to a 16-7 win over Baltimore Colts in the Super Bowl III NFL Football game in Miami. Namath is subject of a new HBO documentary abouth his football career and life, from winning a state championship in western Pennsylvania to Alabama to the "guarantee" of a Super Bowl title with the Jets.(AP Photo/File)
New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) celebrates a fumble recovery with cornerback Marcus Williams (20) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Monday, Sept. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
New York Jets running back Shonn Greene (23) in action during the second half of an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Jets in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
New York Jets wide receiver David Clowney during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
New York Jets free safety LaRon Landry (30) and teammate Antonio Cromartie (31) celebrate after a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Jets running back Thomas Jones, left, is pushed out of bounds by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jamie Silva in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. The Jets defeated the Colts 29-15. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
New York Jets running back Bilal Powell (29) breaks away form Indianapolis Colts free safety Dwight Lowery (33) in the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Monday, Sept. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) celebrates an interception with defensive back Buster Skrine (41) and free safety Calvin Pryor (25) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Monday, Sept. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
New York Jets wide receiver Brad Smith (16) in action during the first half of an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Jets in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
New York Jets running back Shonn Greene (23) in action during the second quarter of an NFL AFC wild card football playoff game between the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The New York Jets defensive line lines up against the Indianapolis Colts offensive line during the second quarter of an NFL AFC wild card football playoff game between the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
New York Jets wide receiver David Clowney (87) breaks a tackle by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Ervin Baldwin during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. Clowney was tackled for a loss on the play. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
4. Un-Sure-Handed
Injuries notwithstanding, Indianapolis' receivers have contracted a case of the dropsies. With 15 dropped passes the past two weeks, the Colts have taken the NFL's unofficial lead with 17 drops, and Ebron is tied for the individual lead with six. "Obviously, the drops are unacceptable," said HC Frank Reich, adding that since Luck threw 121 passes the past two games alone, a few drops will happen, "but we've just got to get back on track." Added Luck: "We're not going to win consistently until we learn to get out of our own way." New Jack City hopes to delay that learning process at least one more week.
5. Mo-Mentum
CB Morris Claiborne was on fire on the Jets' back end against Denver. His four pass defenses set a personal game best for his seven-year NFL career and was the most by a Jets DB since 2013. Adams was asked about Mo's career high — "Career high in drops!" Jamal said, all in fun, of course. "He's an exciting player to watch. He's out there flying around. That's just Mo. He's a playmaker and I love playing with him." Again with Luck letting fly Sunday, opportunities could arise for more PDs and picks.
Here are the Jets DBs with unofficially the most PDs in a game in the last 10 seasons:
| Player | Year | Opponent | PDs | Player | Year | Opponent | PDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dee Milliner | 2013 | vs CLE | 6 | Darrelle Revis | 2011 | vs NYG | 5 |
| Darrelle Revis | 2009 | @ BUF | 5 | Darrelle Revis | 2009 | @ TB | 4 |
| Antonio Cromartie | 2010 | vs MIN | 5 | Dee Milliner | 2013 | @ MIA | 4 |
| Darrelle Revis | 2011 | vs MIA | 5 | Morris Claiborne | 2018 | vs DEN | 4 |
6. Running It Up the Flag Pole
Are the Jets' much-discussed penalty problems a thing of the past? Too soon to say that, but the trends are good. They've committed 10 penalties the past two games to the opponents' 15 and now have 30 flags marked off this year, the ninth-lowest total in the NFL. Another breakthrough: Against the Jaguars and Broncos, the Jets had no presnap penalties. The last time the Green & White had no presnaps in back-to-back games was in the final two games of the 2006 regular season, Year 1 of the Eric Mangini era. Finally, in the last three games the Jets' special teams have committed only two penalties while forcing opponents into eight flags.
7. Oh, What Tangled Webs
Reich was the Bills' '92 playoffs QB for the largest comeback win in NFL history, then the '96 Jets' QB for 10 games, seven starts and 15 TD passes. And on Reich's Colts staff are OL coach Dave "Googe" DeGuglielmo, Jets OL coach in '12, and WRs coach Kevin Patullo, Jets QBs coach in '15-16. In the opposite pipeline, two recent Jets trades with Indy brought in DL Henry Anderson — who wouldn't mind sacking Luck, his former Stanford teammate — and LS Thomas Hennessy, not to mention the St. Patrick's Day trade between the teams with which the Jets grabbed Darnold. Also, C Jonotthan Harrison (free agent) and LB Tarell Basham (waivers) also got their pro starts with the Colts.
In Honor of the 50th Anniversary of Super Bowl III, the Jets Will Wear Gray Facemasks for Week 6
