10/22 — This is the eighth in a series of Radar entries on the 16 games of the Jets' 1968 Super Bowl III season:     

Sunday, Nov. 3, 1968    

Shea Stadium, New York (61,452)

Jim Turner’s half-dozen field goals and a 36-yard interception dash by John Sample provided New York with enough points to reverse an earlier decision by Buffalo. The Bills enjoyed a 21-19 lead on a pair of touchdown passes by Kay Stephenson and an 82-yard punt return by Hagood Clarke, but the last two Turner field goals provided the margin. Turner’s six field goals tied the league record and his eight attempts were a new mark. (Rookie in CAPS below.)

Game Trivia

■ Sample's INT-return TD was his second in two seasons, both vs. Buffalo, and the fourth and last of his 11-year pro career, which ended after Super Bowl III.

■ This was the first victory in franchise history achieved without the aid of an offensive touchdown.

■ Only one Jet has ever equaled Turner's six FGs in a game: Bobby Howfield in 1972. And in NFL-AFL history, Turner's eight FG attempts is tied for second-most in a game all-time.

Quotes Then

MLB Al Atkinson on being awarded a game ball: “I never got one at Villanova. They couldn’t afford to give any balls away.”

Defensive coordinator Walt Michaels: “Right now, Al is playing like an all-league middle linebacker. He’s a money player.”

Namath: “There were maybe four or five times on third down when I threw the ball away. I can do that now with our defense. In other years I had to try to force the pass, but now with our defense I can throw it away, take the field goal and let the other team make mistakes against our defense.”