The Jets have hosted 2 playoff games in the last 17 years: the 2002 Wild card game against the Colts (41-0 Jets thrashing) and the 1998 Divisional game against the Jaguars. Here's the CBS intro to the game to get you warmed up:
78,817 fans filed into Giants Stadium on January 10th 1999 to watch the Jets take on the Jags just two years removed from their disastrous 1-15 season. That was the largest crowd in pro football history at the time, per the New York Times. Keyshawn Johnson, who would have a career day, opened the scoring on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Vinny Testaverde. John Hall then followed with the longest field goal in Jets' playoff history, a 52-yarder to bring the Jets lead to 10-0.
On the next Jets possession, things would turn south, but not for long. Curtis Martin fumbled on the Jaguars' 22-yard line and Jacksonville's Chris Hudson recovered and took off down the field. Just as he was about to be run out of bounds, he pulled a Brandon Marshall lateral and fumbled the ball away. The ball was recovered by Keyshawn Johnson, who covered about 60 yards to make the play. The Jets then drove down to the Jaguars' 10-yard line, where Johnson would score on an end-around to give the Jets a 17-0 lead. On the final play of the first half, Mark Brunell connected with Jimmy Smith on a 52-yard score after Jerome Henderson blew the coverage.
The Jets would rebound to open the second half, as Corwin Brown intercepted Brunell and returned it 40-yards, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Curtis Martin. On the next play, Jaguars' Reggie Barlow returned the kickoff 88 yards, setting up a a 3-yard touchdown pass from Brunell to Keenan McCardell. 24-14 Jets. Curtis Martin then responded with another 1-yard touchdown run to give the Jets a 31-14 lead. Martin would finish the game with 36 carries for 124 yards and those two scores. Brunell kept things interesting, finding Otis Smith on a third-and-15 for a 19-yard touchdown. Wayne Chrebet then fumbled on the next drive and the Jaguars converted with a 37-yard Mike Hollis field goal. 31-24 Jets.
On the next drive, the Jets drove down the field to the Jaguars' 14-yard line, up 7 with two and a half minutes remaining. Inexplicably, the Jets called for a pass play instead of running the clock down. Testaverde was hit as he threw and was intercepted by Donovin Darius in the endzone. Fortunately for the Jets, Darius tried to run out of the endzone and was tackled at the 1-yard line. Brunell was unable to move the Jaguars from there, and the Jets took over and capitalized on the short field with a 30-yard Hall field goal. 34-24 Jets. On the final drive of the game, Brunell heaved a desperation pass only to be intercepted by guess who? Keyshawn Johnson. The Jets had actually practiced that week with Johnson as an extra defensive back for exactly that type of play. Johnson's personal box score: 9 catches, 121 yards, 1 touchdown; 2 rushes, 28 yards, 1 touchdown; 1 fumble recovery; 1 interception. The Jets would go on to lose in the Conference Championship 23-10 to the Denver Broncos, but this was a resounding success for the Jets who had not won a playoff game in 12 years.
Here's to the next time we can pack MetLife for a Jets home playoff game.