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1968 American Football League Championship Game

The 1968 AFL Championship Game was the ninth annual title game of the American Football League, played on December 29 at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York City, New York. In a rematch of the notorious Heidi Game played earlier in the season, thr New York Jets (11–3) of the Eastern Division hosted the defending champion Oakland Raiders (12–2) of the Western Division. Although the Raiders had the better record (on account of having prevailed in the aforementioned contest), the Jets were slight favorites.[2] The Raiders had hosted a tiebreaker playoff game the week before against the Kansas City Chiefs (12–2) to determine the Western Division champion, while the Eastern champion Jets won their division outright and thus were idle.

Oakland Raiders
(Western)
(12–2)

December 29, 1968

62,627

Slightly favored,[3][4] the Jets defeated the Raiders 27–23 to win the championship and the chance to play the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.[5][6][7]

Referee: Walt Fitzgerald (#18)

Umpire: (#23)

George Young

Head Linesman: Tony Veteri (#36)

Line Judge: Al Sabato (#30)

Back Judge: (#70)

Hugh Gamber

Field Judge: Bob Baur (#58)

[6]

The AFL (and NFL) had six game officials in 1968; the seventh official, the side judge, was added in 1978.

Players' shares[edit]

The Jets players each received $8,000 and the Raiders players each received $5,000.[10]


With the win, this meant the Jets were guaranteed an additional $7,500 each, the loser's share in the Super Bowl, while the Super Bowl winners earned $15,000 each.

1968 AFL season

1968 AFL playoffs

AFL Championship Games

Super Bowl III

1968 NFL Championship Game

- 1968 AFL & NFL Championship Games (Highlights) - from NBC pre-game for Super Bowl III w/ Curt Gowdy

You Tube

No known copy of the broadcast of this game exists. Only recaps of NFL films footage have been located.