Breaking down previous playoff appearances

The New York Jets have one Super Bowl championship but they’ve gotten rather close to making a return to the big game. Will they ever make another appearance?

It’s been 47 years since the New York Jets were on top of the football world. It’s been over 17,000 days since ‘Broadway’ Joe Namath fulfilled his guarantee by defeating the Baltimore Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III.

With the Denver Broncos receiving their Super Bowl 50 championship rings, it’s only fitting to take a look back at the 1968-69 championship ring that will forever live in Jets infamy. Although decades have passed since the greatest day in Jets history, they’ve been close, several times as a matter of fact.

Since that historic championship year, the Jets have been at the doorstep, four times. Jets fans remember them well:

1982-83: The Mud Bowl.

1998-99: The Collapse.

2009-10: First Half.

2010-11: Second Half.

The Mud Bowl, the tarp was left off the field of the Orange Bowl during a 72-hour rainstorm leading up to the game, which resulted in a sloppy field covered in mud. The game was a classic defensive battle that featured ten turnovers, eight of them on quarterback interceptions.

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The Collapse, the Jets got out quickly to a 10 nothing lead but ultimately, mistakes and missed opportunities would do them in. From missed field goals, to fumbles, to interceptions, the Jets couldn’t catch a break and quarterback John Elway took advantage.

Most recently, Jets fans bore witness to the tale of two halves. In the first attempt with Rex Ryan, the Jets had a magical first half against quarterback Peyton Manning. Their defense played phenomenal for the majority of that half and quarterback Mark Sanchez led an efficient Jets’ offensive attack.

Then of course the Jets ravaged defensive secondary fell apart and Manning took advantage picking apart their defense in the second half to send the Jets home with nothing. But the very next season, the Jets would be back in the championship game, one game away from that elusive Super Bowl.

But in this game, the Jets didn’t show up in the first half, they were embarrassed for the first 30 minutes of the football game, if you can even call it that. The Pittsburgh Steelers jumped out to a 24 to nothing first half lead.

Despite a second half comeback, the Jets were unable to dig themselves out of the large hole from the first half and were sent packing again. Ironically enough, that was the last time the Jets were in the postseason.

It always stings looking back on how close the Jets really were to being back in the Super Bowl. There are 13 teams in the NFL that have never won a Super Bowl (nearly half the league), so the Jets are fortunate to have at least one.

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Even if it was almost 50 years ago, the Jets are entering the second year of a new regime headed by head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan with hope and optimism very high. While the Jets are still in the midst of a playoff drought, look for them to be battling back into the playoffs in the near future.

The New York Jets have one Super Bowl championship but they’ve gotten rather close to making a return to the big game. Will they ever make another appearance?

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