Oct. 5, 1963 - Given the choice of viewing Cleveland’s superb fullback Jimmy Brown on their living room T.V. or watching the Jets and Patriots at the Polo Grounds tonight, a total of 16,796 discerning grid fans chose the latter and were well rewarded as the Jets, with Dick Wood tossing three touchdown passes, beat the Patriots, 31-24. The hard-earned victory gave Coach Weeb Ewbank’s Jets their third successive triumph and a firmer hold on first place in the Eastern Division of the league. Dick Wood, the lanky New York quarterback, was voted the outstanding offensive player of the game. Wood clicked on 14 of 21 passes for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns, all while studiously avoiding Boston defenders. Prior to this, the 6-5 Auburn grad had shown a weakness, if not a liking, for enemy catchers. Boston, however, didn’t intercept any of Wood’s heaves, and his mates showed their gratitude by filching no fewer than five Pat pitches. Billy Baird snared two, while Tony Stricker, Dainard Paulson, and Larry Grantham intercepted the others. Grantham’s grab came in the first quarter and set up the second Jet tally. The classy linebacker snared the only pass the ailing Babe Parilli tried at the Boston 43 and toe-danced down the sideline to the two. Fullback Mark Smolinski then rammed it over. The other four Jet interceptions came off Tom Yewcic.
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