The exact rule that explains the rare kick converted by Cameron Dicker in Broncos vs Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers benefited from a rarely tapped source of points in Thursday night’s win over the Denver Broncos, as Jim Harbaugh’s men moved a step closer to clinching a playoff spot.

During the Week 16 clash at SoFi Stadium, kicker Cameron Dicker added three points to the Chargers’ total by scoring with what’s known as a ‘fair catch kick’. In doing so, he became the first NFL player to convert such a kick since Ray Wersching, also of the Chargers, back in 1976.

What is a fair catch kick?

According to NFL rules, a team can go for three points by kicking the ball between the posts if it successfully fields what’s termed as a ‘fair catch’.

A fair catch is described by the league as “an unhindered catch of an airborne scrimmage kick that has crossed the line of scrimmage, or of an airborne free kick”. When the ball is in flight, the receiving player must signal for a fair catch by raising one arm above his helmet and waving it from side to side.

At the end of the first half in the Chargers' Thursday Night Football victory, Los Angeles wide receiver Derius Davis signaled for a fair catch as a punt came his way. Although he did not manage to take the ball into his arms, he was deemed to have been the victim of interference by the Broncos’ Tremon Smith.

The first half’s allotted time period had concluded during the play, but the Chargers were given the opportunity to kick at goal under the following NFL rule:

“If time expires during a play in which a player has signaled for a fair catch, the following shall apply:

“If the player makes a fair catch, the receiving team may elect to extend the period with a fair-catch kick, but does not have the option to extend the period by a snap from scrimmage.

“If the kicking team interferes with a receiver who has signaled for a fair catch, the receiving team will have the option to extend the period by attempting a fair catch kick or by a snap from scrimmage after enforcement of any applicable penalties.”

It should be noted that, unlike a field goal, the opposing team is not allowed to try to charge down a fair catch kick.

Striking the ball from 57 yards out, Dicker proceeded to send his kick between the posts, for the longest fair catch kick ever seen in the NFL. That left the Chargers trailing at 21-13 at the break, before the hosts turned the scoreboard on its head in the second half to win 34-27. The Californians now have a 9-6 record and sit sixth in the AFC, as things stand. With two games still to play in the regular season, the Chargers have a 97% chance of reaching the playoffs, per statistics shared by the NFL.

Chargers chief lauds “favorite rule”

“It’s my favorite rule in football,” Harbaugh said post-game when asked about his team’s successful fair catch kick, per NBC. “I’ve tried to get one of those like every game […]. Cam Dicker stepped up and nailed it. And I thought that was a huge [boost to the team’s] momentum. [We] got the momentum back going into half time.”

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