Super Bowl III

Super Bowl III was an American football championship game played on January 12, 1969, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. It was the third AFL–NFL Championship Game in professional American football, and the first to officially bear the trademark name "Super Bowl". Super Bowl III is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in both American football history and in the history of professional sports. The 18.5-point underdog American Football League (AFL) champion New York Jets defeated the National Football League (NFL) champion Baltimore Colts by a score of 16–7. The game was the first of two Super Bowl victories for the AFL over the NFL. Before the game many sports writers and fans believed that AFL teams were less talented than NFL clubs, and expected the Colts to defeat the Jets by a wide margin. The Colts posted a 13–1 record in the regular season and defeated the Minnesota Vikings 24–14 in the Western Conference championship game, then shut out the Cleveland Browns, the only team to beat the Colts in the regular season, 34–0 in the NFL Championship Game. The Jets were 11–3 in the regular season, and defeated the Oakland Raiders 27–23 in the AFL Championship Game. Jets quarterback Joe Namath famously made an appearance three days before the Super Bowl at the Miami Touchdown Club in which he personally guaranteed his team's victory. His team backed up his words by controlling the majority of the game, building a 16–0 lead by the fourth quarter off of a touchdown run by Matt Snell and three field goals by Jim Turner. Colts quarterback Earl Morrall threw three interceptions before being replaced by Johnny Unitas, who then led the Colts 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 in Super Bowl LIII. 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. This is the only Super Bowl whose matchup cannot (barring a future realignment and/or change to the playoff format) occur in the Super Bowl again, as both the Jets and Colts play in the American Football Conference (AFC).

Infobox

New York Jets (AFL)(11–3)

New York Jets (AFL)(11–3) Baltimore Colts (NFL)(13–1) 16 7 Head coach:Weeb Ewbank Head coach:Don Shula

Date

January 12, 1969

Kickoff time

3:05 p.m. EST (20:05 UTC)

Stadium

Miami Orange BowlMiami, Florida

MVP

Joe Namath, quarterback

Favorite

Colts by 19.5

Referee

Tom Bell

Attendance

75,389

National anthem

Lloyd Geisler of the Washington National Symphony Orchestra

Halftime show

"America Thanks" with Florida A&M University band

Network

NBC Radio

Announcers

Charlie Jones, George Ratterman and Pat Summerall

Nielsen ratings

36.0 (est. 41.66 million viewers)

Market share

Cost of 30-second commercial

$55,000

Tables

Jets (AFL)

Quarter

Jets (AFL)

mw- 1

Total

Colts (NFL)

Quarter

Colts (NFL)

mw- 1

Total

Quarter	mw- 1	2	3	4	Total
Jets (AFL)	0	7	6	3	16
Colts (NFL)	0	0	0	7	7

· Game summary › Box score

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP NYJ BAL 2 9:03 12 80 5:06 NYJ Matt Snell 4-yard touchdown run, Jim Turner kick good 7 0 3 10:08 8 8 4:17 NYJ 32-yard field goal by Turner 10 0 3 3:58 10 45 4:06 NYJ 30-yard field goal by Turner 13 0 4 13:26 7 61 3:58 NYJ 9-yard field goal by Turner 16 0 4 3:19 14 80 3:15 BAL Jerry Hill 1-yard touchdown run, Lou Michaels kick good 16 7 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 16 7

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive	Team	Scoring information	Score
Plays	Yards	TOP	NYJ	BAL
2	9:03	12	80	5:06	NYJ	Matt Snell 4-yard touchdown run, Jim Turner kick good	7	0
3	10:08	8	8	4:17	NYJ	32-yard field goal by Turner	10	0
3	3:58	10	45	4:06	NYJ	30-yard field goal by Turner	13	0
4	13:26	7	61	3:58	NYJ	9-yard field goal by Turner	16	0
4	3:19	14	80	3:15	BAL	Jerry Hill 1-yard touchdown run, Lou Michaels kick good	16	7
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.	16	7

Plays

Quarter

Plays

Time

Yards

Drive

TOP

Drive

NYJ

Drive

BAL

Quarter

Time

9:03

Drive

5:06

Team

NYJ

Scoring information

Matt Snell 4-yard touchdown run, Jim Turner kick good

Score

Quarter

Time

10:08

Drive

4:17

Team

NYJ

Scoring information

32-yard field goal by Turner

Score

Quarter

Time

3:58

Drive

4:06

Team

NYJ

Scoring information

30-yard field goal by Turner

Score

Quarter

Time

13:26

Drive

3:58

Team

NYJ

Scoring information

9-yard field goal by Turner

Score

Quarter

Time

3:19

Drive

3:15

Team

BAL

Scoring information

Jerry Hill 1-yard touchdown run, Lou Michaels kick good

Score

"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.

Quarter

"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.

Time

Drive

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	NYJ	BAL
2	9:03	12	80	5:06	NYJ	Matt Snell 4-yard touchdown run, Jim Turner kick good	7	0
3	10:08	8	8	4:17	NYJ	32-yard field goal by Turner	10	0
3	3:58	10	45	4:06	NYJ	30-yard field goal by Turner	13	0
4	13:26	7	61	3:58	NYJ	9-yard field goal by Turner	16	0
4	3:19	14	80	3:15	BAL	Jerry Hill 1-yard touchdown run, Lou Michaels kick good	16	7
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							16	7

· Final statistics › Statistical comparison

First downs

Col 1

First downs

New York Jets

Baltimore Colts

First downs rushing

Col 1

First downs rushing

New York Jets

Baltimore Colts

First downs passing

Col 1

First downs passing

New York Jets

Baltimore Colts

First downs penalty

Col 1

First downs penalty

New York Jets

Baltimore Colts

Third down efficiency

Col 1

Third down efficiency

New York Jets

8/18

Baltimore Colts

4/12

Fourth down efficiency

Col 1

Fourth down efficiency

New York Jets

0/0

Baltimore Colts

1/2

Net yards rushing

Col 1

Net yards rushing

New York Jets

142

Baltimore Colts

143

Rushing attempts

Col 1

Rushing attempts

New York Jets

Baltimore Colts

Yards per rush

Col 1

Yards per rush

New York Jets

3.3

Baltimore Colts

6.2

Passing – Completions/attempts

Col 1

Passing – Completions/attempts

New York Jets

17/29

Baltimore Colts

17/41

Times sacked-total yards

Col 1

Times sacked-total yards

New York Jets

2–11

Baltimore Colts

0–0

Interceptions thrown

Col 1

Interceptions thrown

New York Jets

Baltimore Colts

Net yards passing

Col 1

Net yards passing

New York Jets

195

Baltimore Colts

181

Total net yards

Col 1

Total net yards

New York Jets

337

Baltimore Colts

324

Punt returns-total yards

Col 1

Punt returns-total yards

New York Jets

1–0

Baltimore Colts

4–34

Kickoff returns-total yards

Col 1

Kickoff returns-total yards

New York Jets

1–25

Baltimore Colts

4–105

Interceptions-total return yards

Col 1

Interceptions-total return yards

New York Jets

4–9

Baltimore Colts

0–0

Punts-average yardage

Col 1

Punts-average yardage

New York Jets

4–38.8

Baltimore Colts

3–44.3

Fumbles-lost

Col 1

Fumbles-lost

New York Jets

1–1

Baltimore Colts

1–1

Penalties-total yards

Col 1

Penalties-total yards

New York Jets

5–28

Baltimore Colts

3–23

Time of possession

Col 1

Time of possession

New York Jets

36:10

Baltimore Colts

23:50

Turnovers

Col 1

Turnovers

New York Jets

Baltimore Colts

	New York Jets	Baltimore Colts
First downs	21	18
First downs rushing	10	7
First downs passing	10	9
First downs penalty	1	2
Third down efficiency	8/18	4/12
Fourth down efficiency	0/0	1/2
Net yards rushing	142	143
Rushing attempts	43	23
Yards per rush	3.3	6.2
Passing – Completions/attempts	17/29	17/41
Times sacked-total yards	2–11	0–0
Interceptions thrown	0	4
Net yards passing	195	181
Total net yards	337	324
Punt returns-total yards	1–0	4–34
Kickoff returns-total yards	1–25	4–105
Interceptions-total return yards	4–9	0–0
Punts-average yardage	4–38.8	3–44.3
Fumbles-lost	1–1	1–1
Penalties-total yards	5–28	3–23
Time of possession	36:10	23:50
Turnovers	1	5

Joe Namath

Jets passing

Joe Namath

Jets passing

17/28

Jets passing

206

Jets passing

83.3

Babe Parilli

Jets passing

Babe Parilli

Jets passing

0/1

Jets passing

39.6

Jets rushing

Jets passing

Jets rushing

Matt Snell

Jets passing

Matt Snell

Jets passing

121

Jets passing

4.03

Emerson Boozer

Jets passing

Emerson Boozer

Jets passing

1.90

Bill Mathis

Jets passing

Bill Mathis

Jets passing

0.67

Jets receiving

Jets passing

Jets receiving

George Sauer Jr.

Jets passing

George Sauer Jr.

Jets passing

133

Jets passing

Matt Snell

Jets passing

Matt Snell

Jets passing

Bill Mathis

Jets passing

Bill Mathis

Jets passing

Pete Lammons

Jets passing

Pete Lammons

Jets passing

Don Maynard

Jets passing

Don Maynard

Jets passing

Bake Turner

Jets passing

Bake Turner

Jets passing

Jets passing
	C/ATT1	Yds	TD	INT	Rating
Joe Namath	17/28	206	0	0	83.3
Babe Parilli	0/1	0	0	0	39.6
Jets rushing
	Car2	Yds	TD	LG3	Yds/Car
Matt Snell	30	121	1	12	4.03
Emerson Boozer	10	19	0	8	1.90
Bill Mathis	3	2	0	1	0.67
Jets receiving
	Rec4	Yds	TD	LG3	Target5
George Sauer Jr.	8	133	0	39	12
Matt Snell	4	40	0	14	5
Bill Mathis	3	20	0	13	3
Pete Lammons	2	13	0	11	3
Don Maynard	0	0	0	0	5
Bake Turner	0	0	0	0	1

Johnny Unitas

Colts passing

Johnny Unitas

Colts passing

11/24

Colts passing

110

Colts passing

42.0

Earl Morrall

Colts passing

Earl Morrall

Colts passing

6/17

Colts passing

9.3

Colts rushing

Colts passing

Colts rushing

Tom Matte

Colts passing

Tom Matte

Colts passing

116

Colts passing

10.55

Jerry Hill

Colts passing

Jerry Hill

Colts passing

3.22

Johnny Unitas

Colts passing

Johnny Unitas

Colts passing

0.00

Earl Morrall

Colts passing

Earl Morrall

Colts passing

–2

Colts passing

–1.00

Colts receiving

Colts passing

Colts receiving

Willie Richardson

Colts passing

Willie Richardson

Colts passing

Jimmy Orr

Colts passing

Jimmy Orr

Colts passing

John Mackey

Colts passing

John Mackey

Colts passing

Tom Matte

Colts passing

Tom Matte

Colts passing

Jerry Hill

Colts passing

Jerry Hill

Colts passing

Tom Mitchell

Colts passing

Tom Mitchell

Colts passing

Colts passing
	C/ATT1	Yds	TD	INT	Rating
Johnny Unitas	11/24	110	0	1	42.0
Earl Morrall	6/17	71	0	3	9.3
Colts rushing
	Car2	Yds	TD	LG3	Yds/Car
Tom Matte	11	116	0	58	10.55
Jerry Hill	9	29	1	12	3.22
Johnny Unitas	1	0	0	0	0.00
Earl Morrall	2	–2	0	0	–1.00
Colts receiving
	Rec4	Yds	TD	LG3	Target5
Willie Richardson	6	58	0	21	15
Jimmy Orr	3	42	0	17	8
John Mackey	3	35	0	19	8
Tom Matte	2	30	0	30	3
Jerry Hill	2	1	0	1	4
Tom Mitchell	1	15	0	15	3

· Final statistics › Records set

Passing records