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.
A rare fair catch free kick results in a Cameron Dicker 57-yard FG for the @Chargers 🤯
It’s the first free kick FG since 1976!
pic.twitter.com/yb0cyPuKnR— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2024
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:
“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.
get this man to the pro bowl now#ProBowlVote + cameron dicker#ProBowlVote + cameron dicker#ProBowlVote + cameron dicker#ProBowlVote + cameron dicker pic.twitter.com/4QicStseQU
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 20, 2024
“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.
Kansas City Chiefs President Forced To Address Rumors That Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s Relationship Is Just A “Marketing Strategy” For The Team
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce (Photo by Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
There’s a conspiracy theory for just about everything, including bizarre ones relating to the highly publicized relationship between Grammy Award-winning singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
The three-time Super Bowl champion has been in a relationship with Taylor Swift for over a year. Their rumored romance was confirmed when Swift attended the Chiefs’ Week 3, 2023 home game against the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kelce’s romance with Swfit has been a giant win for the Chiefs and the NFL, too. She has brought plenty more attention to the NFL and contributed to the Chiefs’ skyrocketing popularity worldwide.
Naturally, conspiracy theorists believe the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift romance is simply a marketing ploy to help the Chiefs and the league. But Chiefs president Mark Donovan finally addressed the ridiculous rumor during an appearance on NBC’s “Squawk Box” program:
“I’d love to say that it was a marketing strategy, but it is an authentic relationship. And we’re happy to have it, and it’s been nothing but good for us.
I think the best thing I can say about the whole relationship and the impact it’s had on us is, Taylor Swift is an authentic member of the Kansas City Chiefs kingdom. She’s an authentic fan and that matters to our fans and our fan base and to matters to us and we try to respect that.”
