Revisiting history: Super Bowl III

In this age, we have a tendency to only remember things which happened five seconds ago. Everything is the greatest of all-time. Current scandals will tarnish legacies forever. Last night’s game was a watershed moment.

In reality, most of that talk is utter nonsense. Events are blown completely out of proportion, because so many don’t understand its context within history. Only once in a while can you have a truly remarkable contest that transcends a sport, very much like Super Bowl III in Jan. 1969.

Professional football was in a turbulent time entering that game. National Football League commissioner Pete Rozelle had agreed to merge with the American Football League in 1966, and then watched as his league trounced the AFL in the first two Super Bowls behind Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.

Entering Super Bowl III, the public believed the Baltimore Colts would destroy the AFL’s New York Jets. Baltimore went 13-1 in the regular season before pounding the Cleveland Browns 34-0 on the road in the NFL championship game, and was widely recognized as the greatest team of all-time. Meanwhile, the Jets had blown games in the regular season to the lousy Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos, finishing 11-3 before knocking off the Oakland Raiders 27-24 in the AFL title game.

New York remains to this day the biggest underdog in a Super Bowl, tabbed 18-point underdogs by the oddsmakers. The Jets were supposed to be a coronation for the Colts, giving Baltimore its validation as a truly great team. Instead, the tables were turned in epic fashion.

Everything changed when Jets quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed a victory in the week leading up to the game at a banquet in Miami, which would host the game at the Orange Bowl. Namath gave New York a sense of confidence and consequently put pressure on the Colts, resulting in the greatest upset in pro football history.

The Jets were not overwhelming, but took advantage of Baltimore errors. Colts quarterback Earl Morrall was befuddled all afternoon in front of a capacity crowd, throwing three interceptions while completing 6-of-17 passes for 71 yards. Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas relieved Morrall with the score 16-0, and fared no better. Unitas hit on 11-of-24 throws for 110 yards and an interception, sealing New York’s win.

Namath earned the Most Valuable Player award, throwing for 206 yards without a turnover. Running back Matt Snell might have been the true MVP, rushing for 121 yards on 30 carries and scoring the Jets’ only touchdown.

With the 16-7 victory, New York proved the legitimacy of its league and therefore, the merger. The Kansas City Chiefs would back up the notion of equality between the AFL and NFL in 1969, plastering the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 at New Orleans in Super Bowl IV.

Namath and the Jets were the start of what the Super Bowl is today. Know the history.

About Matt Verderame

Matt Verderame, 26, is a New Yorker who went to school at the frozen tundra of SUNY Oswego. After graduating, Verderame has worked for Gannett and SB Nation among other ventures.

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