| Team: | New York Jets |
| Year: | 1973 |
| Record: | 4–10 |
| Division Place: | 4th AFC East |
| Coach: | Weeb Ewbank |
| Owner: | Leon Hess |
| Stadium: | Shea Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | T Winston Hill WR Jerome Barkum |
| Shortnavlink: | Jets seasons |
The 1973 New York Jets season was the fourteenth season for the team and the fourth in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 7–7 record from 1972 under head coach Weeb Ewbank. The Jets finished with a record of 4–10 in the final season under head coach Weeb Ewbank, with their only wins coming against division rivals New England and Baltimore.
The Jets' offense was weakened when quarterback Joe Namath suffered a shoulder injury in the second game. The injury was the third time in four seasons that Namath had been sidelined. Namath didn't play again until the second half of the tenth game of the season.
The memorandum of understanding signed by team original owner (as the New York Titans) Harry Wismer gave Shea Stadium's co-tenants, the New York Mets’, exclusive use of the stadium until they had completed their season. The Jets were required to open 1973 with several road games. As the Mets had a long playoff run to the World Series, the Jets' first six games were on the road.[1] [2]
The 1973 season would be the last for legendary coach Weeb Ewbank.
See main article: article and 1973 NFL draft.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 17 | at Green Bay Packers | L 7–23 | 0–1 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 47,124 | ||
| 2 | September 23 | at Baltimore Colts | W 34–10 | 1–1 | Memorial Stadium | 55,942 | ||
| 3 | September 30 | at Buffalo Bills | L 7–9 | 1–2 | Rich Stadium | 77,425 | ||
| 4 | October 7 | at Miami Dolphins | L 3–31 | 1–3 | Miami Orange Bowl | 63,850 | ||
| 5 | October 14 | at New England Patriots | W 9–7 | 2–3 | Schaefer Stadium | 58,659 | ||
| 6 | October 21 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 14–26 | 2–4 | Three Rivers Stadium | 48,682 | ||
| 7 | October 28 | Denver Broncos | L 28–40 | 2–5 | Shea Stadium | 55,108 | ||
| 8 | November 4 | Miami Dolphins | L 14–24 | 2–6 | Shea Stadium | 57,791 | ||
| 9 | November 11 | New England Patriots | W 33–13 | 3–6 | Shea Stadium | 51,034 | ||
| 10 | November 18 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 14–20 | 3–7 | Riverfront Stadium | 55,745 | ||
| 11 | November 25 | Atlanta Falcons | L 20–28 | 3–8 | Shea Stadium | 47,283 | ||
| 12 | December 2 | Baltimore Colts | W 20–17 | 4–8 | Shea Stadium | 51,167 | ||
| 13 | December 9 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 23–24 | 4–9 | Veterans Stadium | 34,621 | ||
| 14 | December 16 | Buffalo Bills | L 14–34 | 4–10 | Shea Stadium | 47,740 | ||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | ||||||||
Schedule notes:
See also: 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season.
Bibliography
Ryczek, William J. (2009). Crash of the Titans: The Early Years of the New York Jets and the AFL (revised ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. .Chastain, Bill (2010). 100 Things Jets Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. Chicago: Triumph Books. .