New York Jets Tickets : The Jets Developed A Heated Rivalry With The Oakland Raiders

The New York Jets previously maintained a high tension rivalry against their in-town counterparts, the New York Giants, that has since diminished due to the infrequency with which the teams meet in the regular season.

The pinnacle of the rivalry came on August 17, 1969 when both the Jets and Giants met for the first time, in a preseason game which was viewed as a "turf war" by both opponents.The Giants, considered a mediocre team at the time, were regarded as underdogs and were under much scrutiny by the media and their fans.Ultimately, the Jets would best their rival 37/14, this would result in the firing of Giants coach Allie Sherman.

The Jets met the Giants in 1988 during the final game of the regular season.The Jets, with a 7/7/1 record, had little to lose as their hopes for playoff contention had vanished.The Giants, however, were contending for a playoff spot and a victory would have secured their spot and their division title.Although the six point favorites, the Giants were unable to overcome the Jets defense which saw the Jets sack quarterback Phil Simms eight times. With the Jets's victory and victories by the Rams and Eagles, the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention and the Jets gained what many considered respect.

In spite of the big sibling rivalry that has resulted in trash talk between the players,both teams have formed an unexpected and consequently strong partnership sharing Giants Stadium for twenty six years and New Meadowlands Stadium, a venture in which both teams own a fifty percent share of the stadium.

Upon the formation of the American Football League, the Jets developed a heated rivalry with the Oakland Raiders. For years, Al Davis had an enlarged photo of Joe Namath at Oakland's headquarters that depicted the quarterback sprawled out on the ground following a vicious hit from the Raiders defense; the personal rivalry between Davis and Weeb Ewbank carried over into games between both opponents.

Former Jets linebacker Larry Grantham believed that the Raiders defense often took every opportunity to cheap shot Namath. The rivalry escalated when Ike Lassiter broke Namath's jaw in 1967.In 1968, the Jets suffered a stunning loss against the Raiders in the Heidi Game however New York went on to defeat the Raiders in the AFL Championship to advance to Super Bowl III where the Jets won what would come to be known as the Lombardi Trophy much to the fury of Raider fans.

Following the merger, the rivalry waned in intensity as meetings between both teams were less frequent.There was a brief period between 2000 and 2003 when the rivalry was renewed due to regular season games each year and playoff meetings that saw the Raiders remove the Jets from contention.

The Jets have maintained a rivalry with the Indianapolis Colts since 1969 when the Jets and the Colts, known then as the Baltimore Colts, faced off in Super Bowl III. The Colts were considered the dominant team in the matchup however, Joe Namath publicly guaranteed a New York victory. Though the Colts considered the Jets to be an inferior team and felt their victory was assured, Namath's prediction became immortalized as the Jets beat the Colts 16/7.

Following the merger, the Jets and Colts became division rivals in the AFC East. In 2002, the Colts were realigned into the new AFC South division; the Colts went on to lose to the Jets in the wild card round that same year 41/0. Though regular season meetings have been infrequent since then, the teams have met two more times in the playoffs, including in 2009 when the Colts and Jets met in the AFC Championship Game.

The Colts, considered the favorites, struggled early in the game as the Jets led at halftime. However, a comeback in the second half saw the Colts down the Jets 30/17. In 2010, the Jets faced the Colts again in the wild card round. The Jets exacted revenge on their opponent when they eliminated the Colts in a narrow 17/16 victory that saw Nick Folk win the game for New York on a field goal with only seconds remaining.