1978 New York Jets season

1978 New York Jets season
Head coach	Walt Michaels
Owner	Leon Hess
Home field	Shea Stadium
Results
Record	8–8
Division place	3rd AFC East
Playoff finish	did not qualify
← 1977 Jets seasons 1979 →

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 0 6 7 7 20 • Jets 10 10 7 6 33 Date: September 3 Location: Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game attendance: 49,598 Game weather: 72°F; wind 7

Scoring summary 1 NYJ Wesley Walker 47 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick) Jets 7–0 1 NYJ Pat Leahy 36 yard field goal Jets 10–0 2 NYJ Pat Leahy 22 yard field goal Jets 13–0 2 MIA Delvin Williams 58 yard run (kick failed) Jets 13–6 2 NYJ Mickey Shuler 1 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick) Jets 20–6 3 NYJ Wesley Walker 43 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick) Jets 27–6 3 MIA Nat Moore 1 yard pass from Don Strock (Garo Yepremian kick) Jets 27–13 4 NYJ Pat Leahy 46 yard field goal Jets 30–13 4 NYJ Pat Leahy 36 yard field goal Jets 33–13 4 MIA Loaird McCreay 5 yard pass from Guy Benjamin (Garo Yepremian kick) Jets 33–20

Scoring summary
1		NYJ	Wesley Walker 47 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick)	Jets 7–0
1		NYJ	Pat Leahy 36 yard field goal	Jets 10–0
2		NYJ	Pat Leahy 22 yard field goal	Jets 13–0
2		MIA	Delvin Williams 58 yard run (kick failed)	Jets 13–6
2		NYJ	Mickey Shuler 1 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick)	Jets 20–6
3		NYJ	Wesley Walker 43 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick)	Jets 27–6
3		MIA	Nat Moore 1 yard pass from Don Strock (Garo Yepremian kick)	Jets 27–13
4		NYJ	Pat Leahy 46 yard field goal	Jets 30–13
4		NYJ	Pat Leahy 36 yard field goal	Jets 33–13
4		MIA	Loaird McCreay 5 yard pass from Guy Benjamin (Garo Yepremian kick)	Jets 33–20

1 2 3 4 Total Bills 7 0 0 7 14 • Jets 14 21 10 0 45 Date: October 8 Location: Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 44,545 Game weather: 50°F • Wind 15

Scoring summary 1 NYJ Kevin Long 5 yard run (Pat Leahy kick) Jets 7–0 1 NYJ Burgess Owens 40 yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick) Jets 14–0 1 BUF Reuben Gant 16 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick) Jets 14–7 2 NYJ Kevin Long 16 yard run (Pat Leahy kick) Jets 21–7 2 NYJ Kevin Long 3 yard run (Pat Leahy kick) Jets 28–7 2 NYJ Bruce Harper 82 yard punt return (Pat Leahy kick) Jets 35–7 3 NYJ Derrick Gaffney 18 yard pass from Matt Robinson (Pat Leahy kick) Jets 42–7 3 NYJ Pat Leahy 38 yard field goal Jets 45–7 4 BUF Bob Chandler 15 yard pass from Bill Munson (Tom Dempsey kick) Jets 45–14

Scoring summary
1		NYJ	Kevin Long 5 yard run (Pat Leahy kick)	Jets 7–0
1		NYJ	Burgess Owens 40 yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick)	Jets 14–0
1		BUF	Reuben Gant 16 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick)	Jets 14–7
2		NYJ	Kevin Long 16 yard run (Pat Leahy kick)	Jets 21–7
2		NYJ	Kevin Long 3 yard run (Pat Leahy kick)	Jets 28–7
2		NYJ	Bruce Harper 82 yard punt return (Pat Leahy kick)	Jets 35–7
3		NYJ	Derrick Gaffney 18 yard pass from Matt Robinson (Pat Leahy kick)	Jets 42–7
3		NYJ	Pat Leahy 38 yard field goal	Jets 45–7
4		BUF	Bob Chandler 15 yard pass from Bill Munson (Tom Dempsey kick)	Jets 45–14

1 2 3 4 Total • Jets 0 17 7 7 31 Broncos 14 14 0 0 28 Date: November 5 Location: Mile High Stadium Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 74,983 Game weather: 48°F; wind 10

Scoring summary Q1 DEN Keyworth 5 yard run (Turner kick) DEN 7–0 Q1 DEN Thompson 4 yard fumble return (Turner kick) DEN 14–0 Q2 NYJ Long 4 yard run (Leahy kick) DEN 14–7 Q2 DEN Moses 14 yard pass from Penrose (Turner kick) DEN 21–7 Q2 DEN Jackson 28 yard interception return (Turner kick) DEN 28–7 Q2 NYJ Gaffney 4 yard pass from Robinson (Leahy kick) DEN 28–14 Q2 NYJ Leahy 38 yard field goal DEN 28–17 Q3 NYJ Dierking 3 yard run (Leahy kick) DEN 28–24 Q4 NYJ Walker 75 yard pass from Robinson (Leahy kick) NYJ 31–28

Scoring summary
Q1		DEN	Keyworth 5 yard run (Turner kick)	DEN 7–0
Q1		DEN	Thompson 4 yard fumble return (Turner kick)	DEN 14–0
Q2		NYJ	Long 4 yard run (Leahy kick)	DEN 14–7
Q2		DEN	Moses 14 yard pass from Penrose (Turner kick)	DEN 21–7
Q2		DEN	Jackson 28 yard interception return (Turner kick)	DEN 28–7
Q2		NYJ	Gaffney 4 yard pass from Robinson (Leahy kick)	DEN 28–14
Q2		NYJ	Leahy 38 yard field goal	DEN 28–17
Q3		NYJ	Dierking 3 yard run (Leahy kick)	DEN 28–24
Q4		NYJ	Walker 75 yard pass from Robinson (Leahy kick)	NYJ 31–28

The 1978 New York Jets season was the 19th season for the team and the 9th in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 3–11 record from 1977 under head coach Walt Michaels. Following an opening-game upset over the Miami Dolphins at Shea Stadium, the Jets stayed in contention for most of the season before finishing with an 8-8 record, with Matt Robinson starting most of the season at quarterback.

The Jets overhauled their uniforms and logos for the 1978 season, abandoning the jerseys they had worn since 1963 and the helmet and logo they'd used since 1965 in favor of a more modern look using the same kelly-green-and-white color scheme. The new helmets were solid green with white facemasks, and a stylized "JETS" wordmark in white on each side. The mark featured angular lettering and a silhouette of a modern jet airplane extending horizontally to the right from the top of the "J" above the "ETS". The jerseys featured large TV numerals on the shoulders and two thick parallel stripes on the sleeves, while the pants had a single green stripe from hip to knee on each side.

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