Even those of us too young to remember January of 1969 – which is most of us – know the basics: The Jets were huge underdogs against the Colts in Super Bowl III, and their 16-7 victory 50 years ago Saturday stunned the football world.
But this is the rare case in which an old tale has not grown taller over time. If anything, a review of what people were saying and writing before the game reveals a shocker befitting its reputation.
Joe Falls of the Detroit Free Press predicted the Colts would win 270-0, adding of Joe Namath, “He’d better grow that mustache again and that goatee and those sideburns because they’re going to rearrange his face in Miami on Jan.