1969 Super Bowl III AFL/NFL Championship Program NY Jets / Baltimore Colts

And defeated the Oakland Raiders. 27-23 in the AFL Championship Game.

And three field goals by Jim Turner. Threw three interceptions before being replaced by Johnny Unitas. Who then led Baltimore to its only touchdown, during the last few minutes of the game. With the victory, the Jets were the only winning team to score only one touchdown (either offensive, defensive, or special teams) until the New England Patriots.

Namath, who completed 17 out of 28 passes for 206 yards, was named as the Super Bowl's most valuable player. Making him the first player in Super Bowl history to be declared MVP without personally scoring or throwing for a touchdown. Tickets for the game were priced at twelve, eight, and six dollars.

This is the only Super Bowl whose matchup cannot occur in the Super Bowl again, as both the Jets and Colts play in the American Football Conference. Super Bowl pregame news and notes. The game was awarded to Miami on May 14, 1968, at the owners meetings held in Atlanta. (NFL) had dominated professional football from its origins after World War I.

Rival leagues had crumbled or merged with it, and when the American Football League. (AFL) began to play in 1960, it was the fourth to hold that similar name to challenge the older NFL. Unlike its earlier namesakes, however, this AFL was able to command sufficient financial resources to survive; one factor in this was becoming the first league to sign a television contract-previously, individual franchises had signed agreements with networks to televise games. The junior league proved successful enough, in fact, to make attractive offers to players.

Easily defeated the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs. Although publicized as the inter-league championship games, it was not until later that the moniker for this championship contest between the now two conferences National.

Further information: 1968 Baltimore Colts season. The Baltimore Colts had won the 1958. NFL championships under Coach Weeb Ewbank. In the following years, however, the Colts failed to make the playoffs, and the Colts dismissed Ewbank after a 7-7 record in 1962.

He was soon hired by New York's new AFL franchise, which had just changed its name from the Titans. In Ewbank's place, Baltimore hired an untested young head coach, Don Shula. Who would also go on to become one of the game's greatest coaches. The Colts did well under Shula, despite losing to the Cleveland Browns.

To decide the NFL Western Conference title. The Colts finished a distant second in the West to the Packers in 1966.

With the NFL realigned into four divisions. Of four teams each, went undefeated with two ties through their first 13 games, but lost the game and the Coastal Division championship to the Los Angeles Rams. On the final Sunday of the season-under newly instituted tiebreakers procedures, L. Won the division championship as it had better net points in the two games the teams played (the Rams win and an earlier tie). The Colts finished 11-1-2, tied for the best record in the league, but were excluded from the playoffs.

In 1968, Shula and the Colts were considered a favorite to win the NFL championship again, which carried with it an automatic berth what was now becoming popularly known as the "Super Bowl" against the champion of the younger AFL. The NFL champion, in both cases the Green Bay Packers. Had easily won the first two Super Bowls (1967 and 1968) over the AFL winner, establishing for a while then the superiority of the older NFL circuit. Baltimore's quest for a championship seemed doomed from the start when long-time starting quarterback Johnny Unitas. Suffered a pre-season injury to his throwing arm and was replaced by Earl Morrall.

Decided to keep Morrall in the starting lineup after Unitas was healthy enough to play. The Colts had won ten games in a row, including four shutouts, and finished the season with an NFL-best 13-1 record. In those ten games, they had allowed only seven touchdowns.

Then, the Colts avenged their sole regular-season loss against the Cleveland Browns by crushing them 34-0 in the NFL Championship Game. The Colts offense ranked second in the NFL in points scored (402). (29 receptions, 743 yards, 6 touchdowns) and Willie Richardson. (37 receptions, 698 yards, 8 touchdowns) provided Baltimore with two deep threats, with Orr averaging 25.6 yards per catch, and Richardson averaging 18.9. Also recorded 45 receptions for 644 yards and 5 touchdowns.

However, because zone defenses were common in the AFL and the Jets knew how to attack them. Further information: 1968 New York Jets season. The New York Jets, led by head coach Weeb Ewbank.

(who was the head coach of the Colts when they won the famous 1958 NFL Championship game and later the'59 title also), finished the season with an 11-3 regular season record one of the losses was to the Oakland Raiders. In the infamous Heidi Game. And had to rally to defeat those same Raiders, 27-23, in a thrilling AFL Championship Game. Threw for 3,147 yards during the regular season and completed 49.2 percent of his passes, but threw more interceptions (17) than touchdowns (15). Still, he led the offense effectively enough for them to finish the regular season with more total points scored (419) than Baltimore, and finished fourth in completion percentage, fifth in touchdown passes, and third in passing yards as one of only three quarterbacks to pass for over 3,000 yards in the AFL that season.

Maynard had the best season of his career, catching 57 passes for 1,297 yards (an average of 22.8 yards per catch) and 10 touchdowns. Wide receiver George Sauer Jr. Recorded 66 receptions for 1,141 yards and 3 touchdowns. Added 32 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns.

The Jets rushing attack was also effective. A power runner, was the top rusher on the team with 747 yards and 6 touchdowns, while elusive halfback Emerson Boozer. Contributed 441 yards and 5 touchdowns. Made 34 field goals and 43 extra points for a combined total of 145 points.

The Jets defense led the AFL in total rushing yards allowed (1,195). The Jets linebacking core was led by middle linebacker Al Atkinson. The secondary was led by defensive backs Johnny Sample.

(a former Colt who played on their 1958 NFL Championship team) who recorded 7 interceptions, and Jim Hudson. Several of the Jets' players had been cut by NFL teams. Maynard had been cut by the New York Giants. After they lost the 1958 NFL Championship Game.

"I kept a little bitterness in me, " he says. Sample had been cut by the Colts. "I was almost in a frenzy by the time the game arrived, " he says. I held a private grudge against the Colts.

Hill would be blocking Braase in Super Bowl III. At an all-night party to celebrate the Jets' victory over the Raiders at Namath's nightclub, Bachelors III. Namath poured champagne over Johnny Carson.

As the comedian commented, First time I ever knew you to waste the stuff. Further information: 1968 NFL playoffs.

And easily held off their meager comeback attempt in the final period for a 24-14 win. Then they faced the Cleveland Browns.

Who had defeated them in week 5 of the regular season. But in this game, they proved to be no challenge as Baltimore held them to just 173 total yards and only allowed them to cross midfield twice in the entire game. Matte scored three of the Colts' four rushing touchdowns as the team won easily, 34-0. Meanwhile, New York in the AFL championship game faced a red hot Oakland Raiders. Team who had just defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.

The momentum seemed to swing in the Raiders' favor when George Atkinson. But Namath quickly led the team back, completing a 10-yard pass to Sauer and a 52-yard pass to Maynard on the Raiders' six-yard line. On the next play, his six-yard touchdown pass to Maynard gave them a 27-23 lead they would never relinquish.

• Event/Tournament: Super Bowl
• Grade: Excellent
• Modification Description: Super Bowl program
• Original/Reproduction: Original
• Sport: Football - NFL
• Team: New York Jets
• Vintage: Yes
• Year: 1969