1986 New York Jets season

1986 season of NFL team New York Jets November 2013 March 2026 New York Jets 1986 10–6 2nd AFC East Joe Walton Rich Kotite Bud Carson Leon Hess Giants Stadium Won Wild Card Playoffs(vs. Chiefs) 35–15Lost Divisional Playoffs(at Browns) 20–23 (2OT) TE Mickey ShulerWR Al Toon Jets seasons The 1986 New York Jets season was the 27th season for the team and the seventeenth in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 11–5 record from 1985 and return to the playoffs under head coach Joe Walton. The Jets finished the season with a record of 10–6, qualifying for the top Wild Card spot in the playoffs despite losing their last five games of the season. They defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35–15 in the wild-card round, but lost to the Cleveland Browns in the divisional round. The loss to the Browns is infamous in Jets history. Leading 20–10 in the 4th quarter, the Jets collapsed when Mark Gastineau hammered Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar seconds after he released a pass; Gastineau was flagged for roughing the passer and the Browns rallied to force overtime and win 23–20 early in the game's second overtime. The week-3 game against Miami was memorable as Ken O'Brien and Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino fought a wild shootout that culminated in the Jets winning 51–45 in overtime. Marino threw for 448 yards and six TD passes while O'Brien accumulated 479 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception for what would statistically be the best game of his career. After 11 games, the Jets were 10-1, and the New York Giants were 9-2, with many thinking there would be an all-New York Super Bowl for the first time. The Giants would indeed go on to finish 14–2 and win Super Bowl XXI. Offseason NFL draft 1986 NFL draft 1986 New York Jets 1 22 Mike Haight OT Iowa yes 2 49 Doug Williams Tackle Texas A&M 3 79 Tim Crawford LB Texas Tech 4 105 Rogers Alexander LB Penn State yes 5 132 Ron Hadley LB Washington 7 189 Bob White Tackle Rhode Island 8 215 Robert Ducksworth DB Southern Miss yes 9 245 Nuu Faaola RB Hawaii 10 272 Carl Carr LB North Carolina 11 299 Vince Amoia RB Arizona State 12 328 Sal Cesario Tackle Cal Poly Roster 1986 New York Jets  7 Ken O'Brien 10 Pat Ryan American football 31 Marion Barber Jr. 30 Nuu Faaola y 34 Johnny Hector 24 Freeman McNeil 49 Tony Paige American football 84 Michael Harper American football 87 Kurt Sohn 88 Al Toon 83 Jo-Jo Townsell 85 Wesley Walker 81 Billy Griggs American football 89 Rocky Klever 82 Mickey Shuler 60 Dan Alexander offensive lineman G 63 Ted Banker G 64 Guy Bingham C 65 Joe Fields C 79 Mike Haight y G 72 Gordon King American football T 53 Jim Sweeney American football, born 1962 T 95 Tom Baldwin American football NT 78 Barry Bennett DE 98 Jerome Foster American football DE 93 Marty Lyons DE 74 Derland Moore NT 76 Ben Rudolph DE 54 Troy Benson ILB 59 Kyle Clifton ILB 50 Bob Crable OLB 94 Rusty Guilbeau OLB 55 Charles Jackson linebacker OLB 57 Kevin McArthur ILB 58 Matt Monger OLB 27 Russell Carter American football CB 39 Harry Hamilton FS 47 Jerry Holmes CB 28 Carl Howard CB 48 Bobby Humphery CB 26 Lester Lyles SS 29 Johnny Lynn FS 36 Rich Miano SS 13 Dave Jennings American football P  5 Pat Leahy American football K 43 Vince Amoia y RB IR 52 Tim Crawford y LB IR 99 Mark Gastineau DE IR 73 Joe Klecko NT IR 35 Kerry Glenn CB IR 80 Lam Jones WR IR 68 Reggie McElroy T IR 56 Lance Mehl LB IR 21 Kirk Springs S IR Depth chart Pro-Set 3-4 Yes No No Ken O'Brien Freeman McNeil Johnny Hector Tony Paige Al Toon Wesley Walker Mickey Shuler Rocky Klever Jim Sweeney Ted Banker Joe Fields Guy Bingham Dan Alexander Reggie McElroy Gordon King Bob Crable Lance Mehl Kyle Clifton Charles Jackson Harry Hamilton Johnny Lynn Lester Lyles Jerry Holmes Russell Carter Barry Bennett Mark Gastineau Joe Klecko Tom Baldwin Marty Lyons Pat Leahy Dave Jennings Bobby Humphery Kurt Sohn 1986 New York Jets roster 1986 New York Jets roster 85 85 No Schedule Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 7 at Buffalo Bills W 28–24 1–0 Rich Stadium 79,951 2 September 11 New England Patriots L 6–20 1–1 Giants Stadium 72,422 3 September 21 Miami Dolphins W 51–45 (OT) 2–1 Giants Stadium 71,025 4 September 28 at Indianapolis Colts W 26–7 3–1 Hoosier Dome 56,075 5 October 5 Buffalo Bills W 14–13 4–1 Giants Stadium 69,504 6 October 12 at New England Patriots W 31–24 5–1 Sullivan Stadium 60,342 7 October 20 Denver Broncos W 22–10 6–1 Giants Stadium 73,759 8 October 26 New Orleans Saints W 28–23 7–1 Giants Stadium 44,246 9 November 2 at Seattle Seahawks W 38–7 8–1 Kingdome 62,497 10 November 9 at Atlanta Falcons W 28–14 9–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 53,476 11 November 16 Indianapolis Colts W 31–16 10–1 Giants Stadium 65,149 12 November 24 at Miami Dolphins L 3–45 10–2 Miami Orange Bowl 70,206 13 November 30 Los Angeles Rams L 3–17 10–3 Giants Stadium 70,539 14 December 7 at San Francisco 49ers L 10–24 10–4 Candlestick Park 58,091 15 December 13 Pittsburgh Steelers L 24–45 10–5 Giants Stadium 58,044 16 December 21 at Cincinnati Bengals L 21–52 10–6 Riverfront Stadium 51,619 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1 at Buffalo Bills 1986 Buffalo Bills season New York Jets 1986 2; text-align:center autocollapse New York Jets (0–0) at Buffalo Bills (0–0) September 7 4:00 p.m. EDT Jets 7 7 0 14 Bills 7 3 0 14 Rich Stadium • Orchard Park, New York 79,951 56 °F °C 1 • Wind 12 mph km/h knot Jerry Markbreit NBC Marv Albert and Bob Griese Pro-Football-Reference.com Jets Ken O'Brien 18/25, 318 Yds, 2 TD Freeman McNeil 21 Rush, 72 Yds Al Toon 6 Rec, 119 Yds, TD Bills Jim Kelly 20/33, 292 Yds, 3 TD Greg Bell 17 Rush, 44 Yds Andre Reed 5 Rec, 95 Yds, TD The Jets spoiled the debut of Bills quarterback Jim Kelly. NYJ BUF collapsed 1 8:55 Bills RecTD Bell Kelly 2 good Norwood run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 6:14 Jets RushTD Paige 2 good Leahy run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 7 2 3:51 Jets RecTD Toon O'Brien 46 good Leahy run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 7 2 3:05 Bills FG 19 Norwood 14 10 4 14:00 Bills RecTD Reed Kelly 55 good Norwood run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 17 4 9:58 Jets RushTD Hector 1 good Leahy run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 17 4 5:24 Jets RecTD Walker O'Brien 71 good Leahy run/pass good/failed/incomplete 28 17 4 3:55 Bills RecTD Metzelaars Kelly 4 good Norwood run/pass good/failed/incomplete 28 24 28 24 Week 2: vs. New England Patriots The NFL scheduled the Jets to host the Patriots in a rare Thursday night game. The Jets were limited to two field goals as Tony Collins caught two touchdowns in a 20–6 Jets loss where the two teams combined for just 486 yards of offense. Week 3 vs. Dolphins New York Jets 1986 2; text-align:center collapsed Week Three: Miami Dolphins (1–1) at New York Jets (1–1) September 21 1:00 p.m. EST Dolphins 7 14 17 7 0 Jets 3 28 0 14 6 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey 71,025 69 F C Pat Haggerty NBC Dick Enberg & Merlin Olsen Box Score, Box Score First quarter NYJ – Pat Leahy 32-yard field goal, 4:29. Jets 3–0. MIA – James Pruitt 6-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick), 2:36. Dolphins 7–3. Second quarter NYJ – Johnny Hector 1-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 12:09. Jets 10–7. NYJ – Johnny Hector 8-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 10:00. Jets 17–7. MIA – Dan Johnson 1-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick), 7:26. Jets 17–14. MIA – Mark Duper 13-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick), 5:06. Dolphins 21–17. NYJ – Wesley Walker 65-yard pass from Ken O'Brien (Pat Leahy kick), 3:12. Jets 24–21. NYJ – Wesley Walker 50-yard pass from Ken O'Brien (Pat Leahy kick), 0:34. Jets 31–21. Third quarter MIA – Mark Duper 46-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick), 10:48. Jets 31–28. MIA – Fuad Reveiz 44-yard field goal, 7:12. Tie 31–31. MIA – Bruce Hardy 1-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick), 4:12. Dolphins 38–31. Fourth quarter NYJ – Dennis Bligen 7-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 8:42. Tie 38–38. MIA – Mark Clayton 4-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick), 2:56. Dolphins 45–38. NYJ – Wesley Walker 21-yard pass from Ken O'Brien (Pat Leahy kick), 0:00. Tie 45–45. Overtime NYJ – Wesley Walker 43-yard pass from Ken O'Brien, 12:25. Jets 51–45. Top passers MIA – Dan Marino – 30/50, 448 Yds, 6 TD, 2 INT NYJ – Ken O'Brien – 29/43, 479 Yds, 4 TD, INT Top rushers MIA – Tony Nathan – 4 Rush, 36 Yds NYJ – Johnny Hector – 22 Rush, 82 Yds, 2 TD Top receivers MIA – Mark Clayton – 8 Rec, 174 Yds, TD NYJ – Wesley Walker – 6 Rec, 194 Yds, 4 TD The Jets-Dolphins rivalry reached an apex in this week-3 matchup as Ken O'Brien and Dan Marino unleashed ten combined touchdowns, the last a 43-yard score to Wesley Walker and a 51–45 overtime win for the Jets. Week 4: at Indianapolis Colts The two teams combined for six fumbles and three interceptions as Pat Leahy booted four field goals and Ken O'Brien had a touchdown throw for the Jets’ 26–7 win. Week 5: vs. Buffalo Bills The Jets limited Jim Kelly to 211 yards, one touchdown, and one interception as Mickey Shuler caught the winning 36-yard touchdown for a 14–13 New York win. Week 6: at New England Patriots Johnny Hector and Steve Grogan had memorable performances as the Jets raced to a 24–0 halftime lead. Subbing for injured Tony Eason, Grogan stormed the Patriots back in the second half with three touchdowns and a career-high 401 passing yards. Hector, with a career-high 143 rushing yards, also scored three times, and in the final minute Grogan completed a deep pass to Irving Fryar, but Fryar fumbled to the Jets, ending a 31–24 Jets win. Week 7: Monday Night Football at Denver Broncos The two teams used four quarterbacks (John Elway, Gary Kubiak, Ken O'Brien, and Pat Ryan) and combined for ten quarterback sacks, 22 penalties (for 172 yards), and just 490 yards of offense as the Jets ran away with a 22–10 win. Week 8: vs. New Orleans Saints Despite being shut out 17–0 in the fourth quarter, the Jets beat the Saints 28–23. Al Toon caught three touchdowns against his son's future team and Freeman McNeil added a fourth score. The Jets grabbed three fumbles and picked off the Saints twice. Week 9: at Seattle Seahawks Gale Gilbert was intercepted twice as the Jets crushed the Seahawks 38–7. Ken O'Brien threw for 431 yards and four touchdowns as the Jets put up 553 yards of offense. Week 10: at Atlanta Falcons Three Ken O'Brien touchdowns in the second quarter were enough to upend the Falcons in a 28–14 final. O'Brien and Falcons quarterback David Archer combined for 672 passing yards. Week 11: vs. Indianapolis Colts The Jets picked off Jack Trudeau four times and won 31–16, their ninth straight win putting them at a seemingly commanding 10–1. Week 12: Monday Night Football at Miami Dolphins Mounting injuries for the Jets had steadily weakened the club and the repercussions began in a 45–3 massacre by the Dolphins in Miami. Dan Marino tossed four touchdowns and Lorenzo Hampton blasted to 188 all-purpose yards and three scores. Ken O'Brien completed just 11 of 21 passes with an interception, and Pat Ryan took over under center but was picked off himself; the Jets also fumbled twice. Week 13: vs. LA Rams Three years after the infamous set-to between Jackie Slater and Mark Gastineau the Rams returned to The Meadowlands and won 17–3. Despite 350 yards of offense the Jets managed the one field goal while coughing up four turnovers and committing eight penalties to one Rams foul. Week 14: at San Francisco 49ers Four Niners backs (including ex-Buffalo Bill Joe Cribbs) rushed for 198 yards and three scores as the Niners won 24–10, knocking the Jets to 10–4. Week 15 vs. Steelers 1986 Pittsburgh Steelers season New York Jets 1986 2; text-align:center Week Fifteen: Pittsburgh Steelers (5–9) at New York Jets (10–4) December 13, 1986 12:30 PM EST Steelers 0 17 0 28 Jets 0 14 3 7 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey Clear, 32 F C 58,044 Dick Hantak NBC Dick Enberg & Merlin Olsen Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database First quarter No Scoring Second quarter PIT – Walter Abercrombie 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 12:10. Steelers 7–0. Drive: NYJ – Jo-Jo Townsell 93-yard kickoff return (Pat Leahy kick), 11:54. Tie 7–7. PIT – Gary Anderson 36-yard field goal, 9:07. Steelers 10–7. Drive: PIT – Walter Abercrombie 7-yard pass from Mark Malone (Gary Anderson kick), 1:54. Steelers 17–7. Drive: NYJ – Kurt Sohn 24-yard pass from Ken O'Brien (Pat Leahy kick), 0:14. Steelers 17–14. Drive: Third quarter NYJ – Pat Leahy 18-yard field goal, 9:04. Tie 17–17. Drive: Fourth quarter PIT – Mark Malone 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 11:11. Steelers 24–17. Drive: PIT – John Stallworth 40-yard pass from Mark Malone (Gary Anderson kick), 7:48. Steelers 31–17. Drive: PIT – Lupe Sanchez 67-yard interception return (Gary Anderson kick), 6:00. Steelers 38–17. NYJ – Mickey Shuler 5-yard pass from Pat Ryan (Pat Leahy kick), 2:47. Steelers 38–24. Drive: PIT – Walter Abercrombie 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 0:37. Steelers 45–24. Drive: Top passers PIT – Mark Malone – 16/27, 189 yards, 2 TD, INT NYJ – Ken O'Brien – 20/30, 197 yards, TD, 3 INT Top rushers PIT – Earnest Jackson – 23 rushes, 101 yards NYJ – Freeman McNeil – 23 rushes, 137 yards Top receivers PIT – John Stallworth – 5 receptions, 94 yards, TD NYJ – Mickey Shuler – 8 receptions, 69 yards, TD In a Saturday NFL doubleheader with the Broncos–Redskins game following, the Jets hosted the Steelers and were buried 45–24. Ken O'Brien and Pat Ryan combined for 262 yards and two touchdowns but were intercepted three times as five Steelers backs rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Week 16: at Cincinnati Bengals The AFC East slipped away from the Jets as they were crushed 52–21 by the Bengals. Boomer Esiason exploded to five touchdowns as the Jets had to settle for a wildcard playoff spot. Postseason Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Venue Attendance Wild Card December 28 Kansas City Chiefs (5) W 35–15 Giants Stadium 69,307 Divisional January 3, 1987 at Cleveland Browns (1) L 20–23 (2OT) Cleveland Municipal Stadium 78,106 AFC Wild Card Playoffs text-align:center; New York Jets Wild Card vs Kansas City Chiefs Chiefs 6 0 0 9 Jets 7 14 7 7 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey December 28, 1986 12:30 p.m. EST NBC Marv Albert and Bob Griese Red Cashion 75,212 Scoring KC – Smith 1 run (kick failed) NYJ – McNeil 4 run (Leahy kick) NYJ – McNeil 1 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick) NYJ – Toon 11 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick) NYJ – McArthur 21 interception return (Leahy kick) KC – Lewis recovered blocked punt in end zone (Lowery kick) NYJ – Griggs 6 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick) KC – Safety, Jennings ran out of end zone AFC Divisional Playoff text-align:center; New York Jets Cleveland Browns 23, New York Jets 20 (2OT) Jets 7 3 3 7 0 0 Browns 7 3 0 10 0 3 Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio 12:30 p.m. EST NBC Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy Ben Dreith 79,720 Standings References External links 1986 statistics Category:New York Jets seasons New York Jets New York Jets season Category:20th century in East Rutherford, New Jersey Category:Meadowlands Sports Complex