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league that year in scoring points with 116, mainly from his kicking. With this team, he competed in Super Bowl II, but the following years ended with heartbreak by losing the final AFL Championships.

During the offseason, he was released from his contract, but Blanda fought back and was reinstated on the team, earning his spot with dramatic performances. Because of his performances, the Raiders reached the AFC title game where they lost by a slim margin to the Baltimore Colts. He was 43 at the time, and was the oldest quarterback to play in a championship game. After this, he returned to play five more seasons, but only as the starting kicker.

His final game was at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium, where on January 4, 1976 he kicked a 41 yard field goal and made an extra point at the age of 48. After this season, he was released from the team.

His stats include:
-1 interception
-2 Kickoff returns for a total of 19 yards
-22 punts for a total of 809 yards
-23 fumble recoveries

The following NFL Records are held by Blanda:

-Most passing TD's in a game (7) tied with 4 others
-Most seasons played (26)
-Most seasons scoring a point (26)
-Only player to play in 4 different decades
-Most PAT's made (943) and attempted (959)
- Most interceptions thrown in a single season (42)
-Oldest person to play in an NFL game (48 years, 110 days)
-First play to score over 2,000 points
-Oldest quarterback to start a title game
-Fewest receiving yards in a career (-16)
-Most points in a career (including college, 3,418)
-Most points by an American-born player

Blanda was rightfully elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981, during his first year of eligibility, and also is in the University of Kentucky's Hall of Fame.

He is ranked 98th on the Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

Learn more about this author, Meg A Wright.
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