It was an exciting moment in NFL history as Cameron Dicker of the Los Angeles Chargers kicked the longest fair catch free kick in league history when he converted a 57-yard field goal to end the first half of the Chargers’ 34-27 win over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night.
This was a rare play, since after a team catches a fair catch, it is granted an untimed down, thus providing Cameron Dicker with the opportunity to kick from the spot of the fair catch without interference from the defense. That chance came after Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith was called for fair catch interference and gave the Chargers a 15-yard advantage with no time left in the second quarter.
Cameron Dicker’s successful kick shortened the Broncos’ lead to 21-13, which gave the Chargers a spark as they outscored Denver 21-6 in the second half. The previous record for the longest fair catch free kick was set by Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers in 1962 with a 52-yard attempt.
Charging Head Coach Jim Harbaugh loves his eccentric plays, which is a trademark of Jim himself. In this game, he had been waiting all along throughout the season to get in something like that. “This my favorite rule in football”, said Jim Harbaugh with a laugh after the game. “Just trying to get one of those every game.
The kick also helped the Chargers gain much-needed momentum, as they would face a potential 11-point deficit at halftime. Cameron Dicker, who has been very reliable from long distances this season, praised special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken for preparing the team for such a scenario.
This great kick sealed the win for the Chargers, thereby ending the Broncos’ four-game winning streak and improving their chances of making the playoffs. The Chargers are well on course to close the season on a positive note by playing the New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders.
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