Just ask Captain Bob Pearson of the "Gimli Glider", or Captain Robert Piché of Air Transat Flight 236.
Captain Bob did a great recovery. Lucky he was at altitude. But, I'm sure if you give it a second thought, you'll remember that a jet's wings have to trade lift for less drag, so the slower aircraft of yesteryear were generally able to accomplish a slower, softer, unpowered landing than the faster jets of today.