Is it really? Thursday Night Football If not some kind of weirdness?
Well, Denver Broncos on Thursday-Los Angeles Chargers The game had an event that last occurred in 1976.
With eight seconds left in the first half, and the Broncos leading 21-10, they punted the ball away in hopes of running out the clock and sending both teams to the locker room.
Chargers kicker Cameron Decker, 11, is congratulated by teammate Josh Harris, 47, after making his fifth field goal of the game against the visiting Buffalo Bills during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (Will Lester/Media News Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images)
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The good news is that the clock hit zero, but the bad news is that Denver was called for fair interference.
Of course, the half could not end with a defensive penalty or flag by the kicking team, so the Chargers had the opportunity to get a “fair holding kick” after the penalty put them up 15 yards.
Cameron Decker was able to make a 57-yard kick without any kind of rush, and not before there was some confusion on both sides – in fact, the ball didn't even need to be snapped. Basically, it was about as much of a training exercise as an actual kick can get.
Cameron Decker #11 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts after kicking a field goal during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Harry Cave/Getty Images)
Naturally, Decker pulled it off and instead had an eight-point lead Denver enters Half instead of winning 21-10.
Ironically, the last successful “fair catch kick” was in 1976 by San Diego Chargers basketball player Ray Wersching.
It was the 27th fair catch punt recorded in NFL history, including the postseason, and only the seventh to pass the uprights. The last attempt before Thursday was in 2019, when Joey Sly missed from 60 yards.
Decker's kick is now the longest fair kick in NFL history, surpassing Paul Hornung's 52-yard boot in 1964.
Cameron Decker #11 of the Los Angeles Chargers kicks off during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Cooper Neal/Getty Images)
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There were nine failed attempts between the two free kicks for the Chargers, but this was the shortest. It was not uncommon for a kick to go more than 70 yards, since fair catches were usually taken on the other side of the field.
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