‘I Ain’t Ever Seen That Before’: NFL History Made On Thursday Night Football

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On Thursday night, Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made NFL history with the longest fair-catch free-kick during the Chargers 34-27 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Down 21-10, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw an interception late in the second quarter. But after Denver failed to make a first down and punted with eight seconds left in the half, Denver cornerback Tremon Smith was called for interfering with a fair catch attempted by the Chargers. The 15-yard penalty gave the Chargers the ball at their own 47-yard line, and Dicker converted a 57-yard fair-catch field goal.

 

 

“After a fair catch is made, or is awarded as a result of fair-catch interference, the receiving team has the option of putting the ball in play by either: (a) fair-catch kick (dropkick or placekick without a tee) from the spot of the catch (or the succeeding spot after the enforcement of applicable penalties) or (b) snap from the spot of the catch …” the NFL rulebook states.

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The longest previous fair catch free kick was a 52-yarder by the Green Bay Packers Paul Hornung in 1962, the year the Packers went 11-1 and won the NFL championship.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said the free kick was his favorite football rule.

“It was awesome,” Dicker said. “It was funny to be in that scenario and just be like, ‘Huh, there’s no lineup there. This looks a little weird,’ but it was really cool.”

“Everybody was trying to figure out what was going on,” Chargers outside linebacker Bud Dupree confessed. “We knew he could make it. We just didn’t understand. Was it going to be a two-point or three-point, or did we get the ball on the 1? We didn’t know.”

“Man, I don’t know whose idea it was to kick that, but they know ball,” Chargers running back Gus Edwards marveled. “I was confused as s***. I ain’t ever seen that before.”

Interestingly enough, the last successful fair catch free kick was made by Ray Wersching of the then-San Diego Chargers in 1976.



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