Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos (Photo via Amazon Prime Video)
NFL fans are in shock after learning of an interesting rule that allowed Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker to accomplish an extremely rare feat on Thursday night.
Cameron Dicker and the Chargers hosted the AFC West rival Denver Broncos in a pivotal “Thursday Night Football” clash with both teams vying for the conference’s top wild card spot.
At the end of the second quarter, Tremon Smith of the Broncos was flagged for fair catch interference. That moved the ball to Denver territory, allowing Dicker to kick a 57-yard free kick for three points to close out the half.
It’s also the first successful NFL free kick field goal since 1976, by the way.
The rule is rather simple: NFL teams are allowed to try a “free kick” if their team calls for a fair catch on a punt return. Of course, teams rarely try the free kick because almost every single fair catch happens in the return team’s territory, well out of a kicker’s range.
Needless to say, social media was in shock after learning of the free kick rule:
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“Someone explain how this even happens?,” a confused fan inquired.
“Obscure rule gives #Chargers a shocking field goal, leaving opponents scratching their heads since the Carter administration,” another user wrote.
“This was bananas. I wasn’t sure what to think about it. I didn’t know this was allowed. Smart play by the Chargers,” another fan said.
“Wait , what is this?!?!?,” a user asked.
“NFL script writers been working overtime,” joked one fan.
“Someone explain this to me I’m so confused,” said another.
“I didn’t know that rule existed,” claimed one user.
“Only real ball knowers knew about this rule 😂 shoutout Harbaugh for doing this!! 🔥,” wrote another.
Cameron Dicker Leads Chargers To Pivotal Win
Dicker’s 57-yard field goal proved to be a momentum changer, as the Chargers cut the lead to eight and poured it on the Broncos to complete the season-series weep. The Bolts are now 9-6 with two games to go, while Denver must wait longer to clinch a playoff spot.
REPORT: Detroit Lions Release Massive Injury Update On Aidan Hutchinson That’s Bad News For The Rest Of The NFL
Aidan Hutchinson (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The return of Aidan Hutchinson can come sooner than expected.
Detroit Lions fans have many years of experience feeling like nothing can go right for their franchise, but things have changed since Dan Campbell was hired.
Campbell’s squad’s improvement to 12-1 is simply all the more impressive after the team lost to Hutchinson weeks ago.
What makes their run even more impressive is the new news regarding their standout defensive player.
The Detroit Lions are still operating with the hope that Aidan Hutchinson could potentially return to the field this season if they make a deep playoff run.
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports states that the team thinks he could return for the NFC Championship Game, should the team make it that far.
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Before Thursday’s game between the Lions and Green Bay Packers, Albert Breer reported that Detroit expects Hutchinson “will be in uniform” if they advance to the Super Bowl.
Hutchinson has been out of action since Week 6, when he suffered a broken tibia and fibula in the Lions’ 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Head coach Dan Campbell said at the time that recovery time is four to six months, but he would “never count out” Hutchinson from potentially making it back before the end of this season.
Aidan Hutchinson Would Make The Lions Unbeatable
The Detroit Lions have won eleven in a row and done much of that without the services of their best defensive player.
Should Aidan Hutchinson return sooner than expected, then that would spell doom for any team hoping they could defeat them.
Detroit is already scary, and Hutchinson makes them unbeatable.
