The 1985 New York Jets season was the 26th season for the team and the 16th in the National Football League . It began with the team trying to improve upon its 7–9 record from 1984 under head coach Joe Walton . Among quarterbacks, Ken O'Brien had the lowest rate of interceptions, with only eight interceptions in 488 passing attempts. The Jets finished the season with a record of 11–5, qualifying for the top Wild Card spot in the playoffs . On October 14, during a Monday Night Halftime ceremony, the Jets retired Joe Namath's number 12, and helped inspire the Jets to a 23–7 victory over the Dolphins. In the Wild Card round of the playoffs, they fell at home to the eventual AFC champion New England Patriots 26–14.
The Jets playing against the New England Patriots in week 7
NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled Just The Beginning ; it was narrated by Jeff Kaye .
Contents
1 Offseason
2 Personnel
3 Pre season
4 Preseason Game summaries
5 Regular season
6 Regular Season Game summaries
6.1 Week 1 (Sunday, September 8, 1985): at Los Angeles Raiders
6.2 Week 2 (Sunday, September 15, 1985): vs. Buffalo Bills
6.3 Week 3 (Sunday, September 22, 1985): at Green Bay Packers
6.4 Week 4 (Sunday, September 29, 1985): vs. Indianapolis Colts
6.5 Week 5 (Sunday, October 6, 1985): at Cincinnati Bengals
6.6 Week 6 (Monday, October 14, 1985): vs. Miami Dolphins
6.7 Week 7 (Sunday, October 20, 1985): at New England Patriots
6.8 Week 8 (Sunday, October 27, 1985): vs. Seattle Seahawks
6.9 Week 9 (Sunday, November 3, 1985): at Indianapolis Colts
6.10 Week 10 (Sunday, November 10, 1985): at Miami Dolphins
6.11 Week 11 (Sunday, November 17, 1985): vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6.12 Week 12 (Sunday, November 24, 1985): vs. New England Patriots
6.13 Week 13 (Thursday, November 28, 1985): at Detroit Lions
6.14 Week 14 (Sunday, December 8, 1985): at Buffalo Bills
6.15 Week 15 (Saturday, December 14, 1985): vs. Chicago Bears
6.16 Week 16 (Sunday, December 22, 1985): vs. Cleveland Browns
6.17 Standings
7 Playoffs
8 Playoff Game summaries
9 Awards and honors
10 External links
11 References
1985 New York Jets staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Preseason Game summaries
edit
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
1
September 8
at Los Angeles Raiders
L 0–31
0–1
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
57,123
2
September 15
Buffalo Bills
W 42–3
1–1
Giants Stadium
63,449
3
September 22
at Green Bay Packers
W 24–3
2–1
Milwaukee County Stadium
53,667
4
September 29
Indianapolis Colts
W 25–20
3–1
Giants Stadium
61,987
5
October 6
at Cincinnati Bengals
W 29–20
4–1
Riverfront Stadium
51,785
6
October 14
Miami Dolphins
W 23–7
5–1
Giants Stadium
73,807
7
October 20
at New England Patriots
L 13–20
5–2
Sullivan Stadium
58,163
8
October 27
Seattle Seahawks
W 17–14
6–2
Giants Stadium
69,320
9
November 3
at Indianapolis Colts
W 35–17
7–2
Hoosier Dome
59,683
10
November 10
at Miami Dolphins
L 17–21
7–3
Miami Orange Bowl
73,965
11
November 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
W 62–28
8–3
Giants Stadium
65,344
12
November 24
New England Patriots
W 16–13 (OT)
9–3
Giants Stadium
74,100
13
November 28
at Detroit Lions
L 20–31
9–4
Pontiac Silverdome
65,531
14
December 8
at Buffalo Bills
W 27–7
10–4
Rich Stadium
23,122
15
December 14
Chicago Bears
L 6–19
10–5
Giants Stadium
74,752
16
December 22
Cleveland Browns
W 37–10
11–5
Giants Stadium
59,073
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Regular Season Game summaries
edit
[ 1]
Jets
Game Statistics
Raiders
14
First downs
19
24–62
Rushes–yards
35–122
192
Passing yards
258
16–29–2
Passes
15–22–0
10–61
Sacked–yards
4–24
131
Net passing yards
234
193
Total yards
356
0
Return yards
125
7–43
Punts
4–37
1–0
Fumbles–lost
0–0
2–10
Penalties–yards
7–60
28:21
Time of possession
31:39
[ 3]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
BUF
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Bills
Game Statistics
Jets
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 5]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
GB
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jets
Game Statistics
Packers
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 7]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
IND
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Colts
Game Statistics
Jets
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 9]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
CIN
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jets
Game Statistics
Bengals
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 11]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
MIA
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Dolphins
Game Statistics
Jets
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 13]
Week 7: New York Jets at New England Patriots – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Jets (5–2)
0
3
3 7 13
Patriots (4–3)
3
3
0 14 20
at Sullivan Stadium • Foxboro, Massachusetts
Date : October 20, 1985Game time : 4:00 p.m. EDT Game weather : Cloudy • 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind NNW 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)Game attendance : 58,163Referee : Fred Silva TV announcers (NBC ) : Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Bob Griese (color commentator)[ 14]
Jets
Game Statistics
Patriots
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 15]
Week 8: Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Seahawks (4–4)
0
14
0 0 14
Jets (6–2)
0
0
7 10 17
at Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : October 27, 1985Game time : 1:01 p.m. EST Game weather : Sunny • 69 °F (21 °C) • Wind SW 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn) to 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn)Game attendance : 69,320Referee : Jerry Seeman TV announcers (NBC ) : Dick Enberg (play-by-play) and Merlin Olsen (color commentator)[ 16] Gamebook
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
SEA
Passing
Dave Krieg
9/20, 148 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing
Randall Morris
23 CAR, 88 YDS
Receiving
Daryl Turner
2 REC, 78 YDS, 1 TD
NYJ
Passing
Ken O'Brien
13/25, 182 YDS, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing
Freeman McNeil
22 CAR, 151 YDS
Receiving
Rocky Klever
3 REC, 43 YDS
Seahawks
Game Statistics
Jets
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 17]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
IND
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jets
Game Statistics
Colts
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 19]
Week 10: New York Jets at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Jets (7–3)
0
3
7 7 17
Dolphins (6–4)
0
7
7 7 21
at Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, Florida
Date : November 10, 1985Game time : 4:01 p.m. EDT Game weather : Mostly Sunny • 84 °F (29 °C) • Wind E 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn)Game attendance : 73,965Referee : Bob McElwee TV announcers (NBC ) : Dick Enberg (play-by-play) and Merlin Olsen (color commentator)[ 20]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
MIA
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jets
Game Statistics
Dolphins
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 21]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
TB
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Buccaneers
Game Statistics
Jets
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 23]
Week 12: New England Patriots at New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Patriots (8–4)
0
3
0 10 0 13
Jets (9–3)
6
0
7 0 3 16
at Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : November 24, 1985Game time : 1:01 p.m. EST Game weather : Sunny • 53 °F (12 °C) • Wind NW 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn) to 22 miles per hour (35 km/h; 19 kn)Game attendance : 74,100Referee : Bob Frederic TV announcers (NBC ) : Charlie Jones (play-by-play) and Merlin Olsen (color commentator)[ 24]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NE
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Patriots
Game Statistics
Jets
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 25]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DET
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jets
Game Statistics
Lions
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 27]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
BUF
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jets
Game Statistics
Bills
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 29]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
CHI
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Bears
Game Statistics
Jets
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
[ 31]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
CLE
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Browns
Game Statistics
Jets
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
Playoff Game summaries
edit
[ 33]
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: (A5) New England Patriots at (A4) New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter
Total
Patriots (12–5)
3
10
10 3 26
Jets (11–6)
0
7
7 0 14
at Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : December 28, 1985Game time : 4:07 p.m. EST Game weather : Partly Cloudy • 33 °F (1 °C) • Wind NW 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn) to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h; 26 kn)Game attendance : 70,958Referee : Jerry Seeman TV announcers (NBC ) : Marv Albert (play-by-play), Bob Griese (color commentator) and Ahmad Rashad (sideline reporter)[ 34]
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NE
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
NYJ
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Patriots
Game Statistics
Jets
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession
Ken O'Brien, NFL passing leader (96.2 passer rating)
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; New York Jets at Los Angeles Raiders – September 8, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – September 15, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; New York Jets at Green Bay Packers – September 22, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets – September 29, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals – October 6, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; Miami Dolphins at New York Jets – October 14, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; New York Jets at New England Patriots – October 20, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets – October 27, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts – November 3, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; New York Jets at Miami Dolphins – November 10, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets – November 17, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; New England Patriots at New York Jets – November 24, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; New York Jets at Detroit Lions – November 28, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; New York Jets at Buffalo Bills – December 8, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; Chicago Bears at New York Jets – December 14, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; Cleveland Browns at New York Jets – December 22, 1985
^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Apr-24.
^ Pro Football Reference ; AFC Wild Card Playoffs – New England Patriots at New York Jets – December 28, 1985