It was the first game officially entitled "Super Bowl"…but it was actually Super Bowl III.

And because it featured a shocking guarantee of victory by a brash young quarterback who came through on his promise, Super Bowl III became a classic, so much so that it was chosen by NFL fans as the eighth Most Memorable NFL Game of the Century.

To commemorate the end of the century, the National Football League invited fans to vote on nfl.com, the league’s official website, for the 10 most memorable games of the century. Nearly 35,000 votes were cast. Each Wednesday, the next "most memorable" game will be announced, culminating in the announcement of the Most Memorable NFL Game of the Century during Super Bowl XXXIV week on Wednesday, January 26.

In Super Bowl III, the AFL-champion New York Jets would face the best team from the NFL – a Baltimore Colts squad which rolled to a 13-1 regular-season record on the strength of the league’s top defense (10.3 points per game) and blanked the Cleveland Browns 34-0 in the NFL Championship Game.

"When the AFL started, we were an underdog, " says FOX-TV analyst JOHN MADDEN, who was an assistant coach for the Oakland Raiders team which lost to Green Bay in Super Bowl II. "We were always the underdog."

Especially in January 1969.

The Jets, though, were by no means a pushover. Three Jets – quarterback JOE NAMATH, wide receiver GEORGE SAUER, JR., and defensive end GERRY PHILBIN – were named to the AFL-NFL all-pro team in 1968. In addition, 13 Jets were named to the AFL all-star team.

The club had scored 419 points – a team record which still stands. Defensively, the Jets featured the AFL’s top overall and best rushing defense, tying the Dallas Cowboys (85.4) for football’s top mark in the latter category.

But statistics did not help the Jets in the eyes of the media and public. Most of the media picked the Colts to win, with four writers predicting a Baltimore victory by at least 38 points.

THE GUARANTEE -- On the Thursday before the game, Namath was accepting his Pro Football Player of the Year award at the Miami Touchdown Club when an enthusiastic Colts fan interrupted. He boasted that his team would conquer the Jets -- prompting sport’s most publicized promise.

"I said, ‘Wait a minute,’" recalled Namath. "’You guys – Colts’ fans and the media – have been talking for two weeks now.’ I said, ‘I’m tired of hearing it. I have news for you. We’re going to win the game. I guarantee it.’"

Jets head coach WEEB EWBANK was not pleased with Namath’s proclamation. "I talked to him at our meeting the next day," the late Ewbank once recalled. "I said, ‘Dadgummit, why did you say that? We had them right where we wanted them.’"

Namath’s promise turned Super Bowl III from a much-anticipated championship game into a national spectacle.

"They could have sold 150,000 tickets to the game," said CURT GOWDY, who broadcast the game on NBC-TV. "Tickets were never more scarce in Miami."

Tickets were scarce, but for the 75,377 fans who paid $12 for a ticket to the Orange Bowl (not to mention the 55 million watching on television), the price of admission was well worth it.

THE GAME – On their first possession of the game, the Colts opened with a 54-yard drive to the Jets’ 19, but missed a 27-yard field goal. It was a sign of things to come.

The Colts opened the second period on the Jets’ 11-yard line. After halfback TOM MATTE rushed seven yards to the New York six, the Colts wasted another scoring chance. NFL MVP EARL MORRALL’s third-down pass was tipped by Jets linebacker AL ATKINSON and intercepted by cornerback RANDY BEVERLY in the end zone.

The ensuing possession was a methodical and balanced Jets drive featuring seven runs (six by MATT SNELL for 35 yards) and five Namath passes (four completed for 43 yards). The 12-play, 80-yard march ate up five minutes and six seconds off the clock and was capped by a four-yard touchdown run over left tackle by Snell. Thus, Beverly’s interception helped turn a possible three- or seven-point Baltimore edge into a 7-0 New York advantage.

"Namath did an exceptional job," said Colts head coach DON SHULA. "When we did come with the blitz, other quarterbacks weren’t able to handle it. But Namath with his quick release was able to get rid of the ball."

Things didn’t get any easier for the Colts in the second half. On their first play from scrimmage, Matte fumbled on the 33-yard line. The Jets recovered and increased their lead to 10-0 on JIM TURNER’s 32-yard field goal.

The Colts’ next drive resulted in three plays for minus-two yards and a punt. New York then drove 45 yards in 10 plays and kicked a field goal for a 13-0 advantage with four minutes left in the third quarter.

Shula then called on the legendary JOHNNY UNITAS to replace Morrall. But the Colts went three-and-out again. New York followed with a three-minute, 58-second drive which covered 61 yards and yielded another field goal. Jets 16, Colts 0 early in the fourth quarter.

"You may be watching one of sport’s greatest upsets in history," said Gowdy on the NBC broadcast.

The Colts managed a touchdown with three minutes left, but it was too late. New York won 16-7.

"The guarantee" was fulfilled. The AFL had won its first Super Bowl, and respectability.

SUPER BALL -- At his press conference two days before the game, NFL Commissioner PETE ROZELLE announced that the AFL-NFL Championship game would be called "Super Bowl III." The name was suggested by Kansas City Chiefs founder LAMAR HUNT, who noticed his children playing with a popular toy of the time called the "Super Ball."

QUOTABLE

"I’ve broadcast sports for 50 years," said Gowdy. "I’ve done eight Super Bowls, a lot of Rose Bowls and Orange Bowls, World Series, 18 or 20 NCAA tournaments, and eight Olympics. As I look back, my most memorable game was Super Bowl III because of its historical importance as one of the biggest upsets of all-time in sports. That game will always stand out as the most memorable event in my broadcasting career."