1997 New York Jets season
1997 New York Jets season | |
---|---|
Owner | Leon Hess |
Head coach | Bill Parcells |
Home field | Giants Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 9–7 |
Division place | 3rd AFC East |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | LB Mo Lewis |
The 1997 New York Jets season was the franchise's 28th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 38th overall. Sparked by the arrival of head coach Bill Parcells, who replaced Rich Kotite, and was coming off a Super Bowl berth the previous season, they improved upon its league-worst and franchise-worst 1–15 record from 1996 finishing at 9–7, but narrowly missed the playoffs after losing their final game of the season. It was their first winning season since 1988 when they finished with an 8–7–1 record.
Offseason
For most of the end of the 1996 season, the Jets were courting Parcells to take over their football operations. This drew criticism from the team that employed Parcells at the time, the New England Patriots, who were in the middle of a push that eventually led to a loss in Super Bowl XXXI. Parcells made a now-famous statement regarding the Patriots’ unwillingness to give him more of a say in football matters: "If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries."
Parcells eventually announced his resignation but was bound by the terms of his contract with the Patriots, which forbade him from coaching anywhere else until the contract expired. To temporarily resolve the situation the Jets hired
In regards to that pick, two players were on the Jets’ radar. One was Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace, who was coming out of school a year early. The other was Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, who had graduated from school in three years but still had a year of eligibility left, yet was expected by many to come out for the draft.[1] Manning announced he would return to Tennessee for his senior season.[2] Because the Jets already possessed two established free agent offensive tackles in David Williams and Jumbo Elliott and had much greater needs elsewhere,[3] their #1 pick destined for Pace was traded to the St. Louis Rams. The Jets instead drafted Virginia linebacker James Farrior.
NFL Draft
1997 New York Jets draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 | James Farrior * | LB | Virginia | from Tampa Bay |
2 | 31 | Rick Terry | DT | North Carolina | |
3 | 88 | Dedric Ward | WR | Northern Iowa | from Denver |
4 | 102 | Terry Day | DE | Mississippi State | from St. Louis |
4 | 104 | Leon Johnson | RB | North Carolina | from Tampa Bay |
5 | 131 | Lamont Burns | G | East Carolina | |
5 | 145 | Ray Austin | SS | Tennessee | from Miami |
6 | 164 | Tim Scharf | LB | Northwestern | |
6 | 191 | Chuck Clements | QB | Houston | from Denver |
7 | 202 | Steve Rosga | DB | Colorado | |
7 | 229 | Jason Ferguson | DT | Georgia | from Denver |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | TV Time (ET) | TV Announcers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 31, 1997 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 41–3 | Kingdome | NBC 4:00pm | Mike Breen & James Lofton | 53,893
|
2 | September 7, 1997 | Buffalo Bills | L 28–22 | Giants Stadium | NBC 1:00pm | Marv Albert & Randy Cross | 72,988
|
3 | September 14, 1997 | at New England Patriots | L 27–24 (OT) | Foxboro Stadium | TNT 8:00pm | Verne Lundquist, Pat Haden & Mark May | 60,072
|
4 | September 21, 1997 | Oakland Raiders | W 23–22 | Giants Stadium | NBC 1:00pm | Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms | 72,586
|
5 | September 28, 1997 | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 31–14 | Cinergy Field |
NBC 4:00pm | Mike Breen & James Lofton | 57,209
|
6 | October 5, 1997 | at Indianapolis Colts | W 16–12 | RCA Dome | NBC 4:00pm | Mike Breen & James Lofton | 48,295
|
7 | October 12, 1997 | Miami Dolphins | L 31–20 | Giants Stadium | NBC 1:00pm | Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms | 75,601
|
8 | October 19, 1997 | New England Patriots | W 24–19 | Giants Stadium | NBC 1:00pm | Mike Breen & James Lofton | 71,061
|
9 | Bye | ||||||
10 | November 2, 1997 | Baltimore Ravens | W 19–16 (OT) | Giants Stadium | NBC 1:00pm | Mike Breen & James Lofton | 59,524
|
11 | November 9, 1997 | at Miami Dolphins | L 24–17 | Pro Player Stadium |
NBC 1:00pm | Charlie Jones, Bob Trumpy & Randy Cross | 73,809
|
12 | November 16, 1997 | at Chicago Bears | W 23–15 | Soldier Field | NBC 4:00pm | Tom Hammond & Randy Cross | 45,642
|
13 | November 23, 1997 | Minnesota Vikings | W 23–21 | Giants Stadium | FOX 1:00pm | Dick Stockton & Matt Millen | 70,131
|
14 | November 30, 1997 | at Buffalo Bills | L 20–10 | Rich Stadium |
NBC 1:00pm | Tom Hammond & Randy Cross | 47,776
|
15 | December 7, 1997 | Indianapolis Colts | L 22–14 | Giants Stadium | NBC 4:00pm | Mike Breen & James Lofton | 61,168
|
16 | December 14, 1997 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 31–0 | Giants Stadium | FOX 1:00pm | Dick Stockton & Matt Millen | 60,122
|
17 | December 21, 1997 | at Detroit Lions | L 13–10 | Pontiac Silverdome | NBC 4:00pm | Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms | 77,624
|
Note: Intra-division games are in bold text |
Notable Games
- August 31 @ Seattle Seahawks
The new-look Jets erupted in their first game under
- September 14 @ New England Patriots
On
- September 21 vs. Oakland Raiders
The 1–2 Jets rebounded from the loss when they faced the 1–2 Raiders.
- October 19 vs. New England Patriots
Entering Week Eight the AFC East race in 1997 had become a four-way fight with the Patriots entering at 5–1, the Jets 5–2,
- November 9 @ Miami Dolphins
- November 23 vs. Minnesota Vikings
- December 14 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After losing two straight, falling to 8–6, the Jets authored their most decisive win of the season as they limited the Bucs to 136 total yards and three turnovers. Trent Dilfer was picked off twice by Otis Smith and Smith ran back touchdowns for a combined 96 yards. Leon Johnson opened the third quarter by running back the kickoff 101 yards for another touchdown, and Adrian Murrell finished off the scoring on a seven-yarder in the third. The 31–0 score put the Jets within reach of a division title and secured their first outright winning season since 1988.
- December 21 @ Detroit Lions
With the 9–6 Dolphins hosting the 9–6 Patriots on
Standings
AFC East
| |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
(3) New England Patriots | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 369 | 289 | W1 |
(6) Miami Dolphins | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 339 | 327 | L2 |
New York Jets | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 348 | 287 | L1 |
Buffalo Bills | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 255 | 367 | L3 |
Indianapolis Colts | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 313 | 401 | L1 |
References
- ^ Myers, Gary (January 31, 1997). "Archie's Gut Says Peyton Goes Pro". Daily News. New York City. p. 82.
- ^ Lupica, Mike (March 6, 1997). "Manning May Have Made Wrong Decision". Mount Vernon Argus. White Plains, New York. p. 7D.
- ^ Corbett, Jim (April 13, 1997). "Jets Draft Picture Muddy As Big Day Draws Near". The Journal News. White Plains, New York. p. 9D.