On This Date in Sports September 24, 1972 Broadway Joe's biggest day
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
A pair of future Hall of Fame quarterbacks stage an early season shootout for the ages, as Joe Namath and the New York Jets edge the Baltimore Colts led by Johnny Unitas 44-34 at Memorial Stadium. The two legends combine for 872 yards through the air as Namath has the best game of his career, passing for 496 yards with six touchdowns as the Jets start 2-0.
It was the third season since the full merger, and the fifth time the Baltimore Colts faced the New York Jets since moving over to the AFC East. The Colts won all four meetings between 1970 and 1971 getting a slight measure of revenge. The Colts coached by Don McCafferty were a great team in decline as the 1972 season began. After winning Super Bowl V and losing in the AFC Championship Game in 1971 the Colts were in transition as management wanted a move from Johnny Unitas as their quarterback. During the off-season, longtime owner Carroll Rosenbloom traded franchises with Robert Irsay to take over the Los Angeles Rams, while Irsay became the owner of the Colts. The Weeb Ewbank led Jets meanwhile had two losing seasons as Joe Namath dealt with injuries.
Playing in Week 2 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, the Jets came in after a 41-24 win over the Buffalo Bills, while the Colts lost their opener at home against the St. Louis Cardinals 10-3. The Jets started the game with a bang, as Joe Namath connected with Eddie Bell on a 65-yard touchdown strike, with Bobby Howfield missing the extra point. The Colts responded with Johnny Unitas hitting Sam Havrilak on a 40-yard scoring pass. Leading 7-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Colts got field goals by Jim O’Brien on their first two possessions of the second quarter. The Jets got back in the game, on another big play as John Riggins took a screen from Namath 67 yards to tie the game. The game would only remain tied for a few moments as Don McCauley went 93-yards on the ensuing kickoff to keep Baltimore in front 20-13. From there the rest of the first half was all Jets, as Broadway Joe had two more touchdown passes, one to Don Maynard for 28 yards and 21 yards to Rich Caster to give New York a 27-20 lead.
The Jets started the second half with a 14-yard field goal by Bob Howfield, for the only scoring of the third quarter. In the fourth, the Colts got back in the game with McCauley completing a long drive with a one-yard scoring run. While the Colts were controlling time of possession, Joe Namath was bombing Baltimore to death, as he connected with Rich Caster on a 79-yard scoring play. After the Colts answered with Tom Matte reeling in a 21-yard touchdown pass, Namath and Caster connected again on a long play for 80 yards to seal the 44-34 victory for the Jets, marking the first time the Jets beat the Colts since Super Bowl III.
Joe Namath ended the game completing 15 of 28 passes for 496 yards with six touchdowns, while Johnny Unitas finished with 26 completing of 45 attempts for 276 yards and two touchdowns. The big target for Namath was Rich Caster who made six catches for 24 yards, scoring three times. The Jets would go on to finish 7-7 despite their 2-0 start, while the Colts went 5-9 as Unitas was benched in what would be his final season in Baltimore.