Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made the first successful fair-catch kick since 1976, and it was the longest such kick in NFL history.
A little known NFL rule allows a team the right to take a free kick from the line of scrimmage on the next play following a fair catch. It essentially is a field goal with a holder (but no snap) and without a rush as the defense has to stand at least 10 yards from the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.
The Chargers got a chance to try it when returner Derius Davis signaled for a fair catch. Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith grazed Davis’ leg as he went by, drawing a flag for fair catch interference.
Even though time expired, the Chargers received an untimed down because of the 15-yard penalty. They first sent out the offense before calling a timeout. It is unclear whether Jim Harbaugh initially knew the rule, which is not in college football.
Dicker made the 57-yard field goal to draw the Chargers to within 21-13 at halftime.
Ray Wersching’s 45-yard free-kick for the Chargers against the Bills on Nov. 21, 1976, was the last successful fair-catch kick, according to quirkyresearch.com. There are five other known successful free kicks for field goals, including a 52-yarder by Green Bay’s Paul Hournung at the end of the first half of a game against the Bears in 1964.
No team had tried a free-kick since 2019 when Carolina kicker Joey Slye was wide right from 60 yards at the end of the first half in a game against the Bucs in London.
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