Pegged as 16-point underdogs by the oddsmakers and a collection of misfits by National Football League partisans, the Jets fired out and destroyed what many regarded as a pro football dynasty.

The Jets surely killed another myth. For years, people had been rejecting the American Football League as inferior to the established NFL. Not any more.

Outplayed all ways

Besides whipping the Colts on the scoreboard, the Jets outplayed Baltimore in almost every way possible before 75,377 in the Orange Bowl. Mostly it was because Broadway Joe, their shaggy-haired quarterback, completed 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards and kept the Colts off balance with his near-perfect play calling.

"It is a victory for the entire American Football League," Namath said in the mobbed Jet dressing room.

"We overcame our critics. Most people had predicted that we'd losr by something like 42-13."

Matt Snell, a vicious runner, pounded out 121 yards in 30 carries against the NFL's toughest defense. After Snell bounded around left end for a four-yard scoring run in the second period, the Jets slowly but surely increased their 7-0 lead exclusively with Jim Turner's foot.

Open 16-0 cushion

Turner booted field goals of 32, 30 and 9 yards in the second half. His final kick, early in the fourth quarter, opened a 16-0 lead for the Jets. Sore-armed Johnny Unitas relieved Earl Morrall, who had a horrible game, and took the Colts 80 yards in the final period for their only score. Jerry Hill went over left tackle from the one for the touchdown. And even then, it took three cracks from the one against the Jet defense to score.

The Colt defense was no match for Namath. The rush-line of Bubba Smith, Billy Ray Smith, Fred Miller and Ordell Braase got to Broadway Joe only twice. When the Colts resorted to blitzing tactics, Namath checked off and seemed to come up with the appropriate counter-play.

Tried five times

"We tried to blitz him about five times," said losing coach Don Shula. "And he beat the blitz more than we beat him."

"We didn't make the plays," Shula added. "Everything we tried just never materialized. When we finally did get going, it was too late. It is a shame we have to face the winter after all the good things we have accomplished. But we'll just have to be men."

The Jets' defensive secondary, composed of talkative Johnny Sample and three obscure players, intercepted three of Morrall's passes and picked off one on Unitas. Randy Beverly, the right cornerback, personally ruined two Baltimore scoring chances by pulling off his steals in the end zone.

Sample, who taunted Colt flanker Willie Richardson, throughout the game, made his interception at the 2-yard line. The other theft was by strong safety Jim Hudson at the end of the second period on a "flea flicker" pass. Morrall, had he been able to spot Jimmy Orr, might have connected for a touchdown on this play. Instead, he tried to hit Hill. Hudson cut in front of the receiver for the interception as Orr frantically waved his hands in vain at the 10 with the nearest Jet 15 yards away.

On the "flea flicker," Morrall handed the ball off to Tom Matte, who pretended to sweep right end. Matte turned and flipped back to Morrall on the left side. Earlier in the season, Morrall had thrown a 46-yard touchdown strike on same play to Orr.

"The way I caught the ball from Matte, I was turned slightly to the right and I didn't even see Orr open," Morrall explained. "I saw Hill open in the middle and threw to him." Hudson's interception allowed the Jets to keep their 7-0 lead at halftime.

On the first scrimmage play of the third period, Matte fumbled and free safety Bill Baird recovered for the Jets at the Baltimore 33.

Namath moved the Jets to the 11, practically insulting the Colt defense on the third-and-three by sending Snell up the middle. Amazingly enough, Snell made the first down.