1986 New York Jets season

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1986 NFL draft

Roster

Depth chart

Schedule

Regular season

Game summaries

Week 1 at Buffalo Bills

;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.

Week 2: vs. [[1986 New England Patriots season|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

;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 [[1986 Indianapolis Colts season|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 [[Schaefer Stadium|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 [[1986 Denver Broncos season|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. [[1986 New Orleans Saints season|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 [[1986 Seattle Seahawks season|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 [[1986 Atlanta Falcons season|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 [[Joe Robbie Stadium|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. [[1986 Los Angeles Rams season|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 [[1986 San Francisco 49ers season|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

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 [[1986 Cincinnati Bengals season|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

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

• 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

Standings

References