OAKLAND, Calif. -- Shane Lechler went 1 for 2 in his chase for league punting records.
Lechler fell just short of breaking Sammy Baugh's NFL single-season record for gross punting average, while topping his own mark for net average in a season.
Lechler averaged 52.4 yards on five punts in Sunday's season finale for Oakland against Baltimore. That gave him a 51.1-yard average for the season, just shy of Baugh's record of 51.4 yards in 1940.
Lechler finished the season with a 43.9-yard net average, breaking the mark of 41.2 he set last season. No punter had topped a 40-yard net average until Lechler and Andy Lee did so in 2007. Lechler has extended his record the past two seasons.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
