Los Angeles Chargers score on ultra rare ‘fair catch kick,’ first successful attempt since 1976

Los Angeles Chargers placekicker Cameron Dicker connected on a 57-yard free-kick field goal on Thursday, an incredibly rare play that early-to-bed East Coast residents and linear TV watchers probably missed.

The Chargers came from behind to beat the visiting Denver Broncos, 34-27, a rally touched off on Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” by Dicker’s unhindered field goal to end the first half.

It was the NFL’s first successful free-kick field goal in 48 years.

With the Broncos leading 21-10 in the closing seconds of the second quarter, Denver was forced to punt on fourth-and-12 from its own 16-yard line.

L.A. punt returner Derius Davis was poised to make a fair catch at his own 38-yard line. A fair catch is a common football play, when a kick receiver signals he’ll reel in the boot and surrender any chance for a return in exchange for him not being hindered.

Davis didn’t catch the ball because he was illegally touched by Denver’s Tremon Smith, and that fair-catch interference drew a 15-yard penalty, moving Los Angeles up to Denver’s 47-yard line.

With no time left on the clock, many fans watching at home or in attendance at SoFi Stadium surely believed the half was over. But “Thursday Night Football” rules analyst Terry McAulay immediately told viewers to stay on their couch: “They can do a free kick for a field goal, which we haven’t seen in … forever.”

In a fair-catch kick, the receiving team is allowed to try a field goal from the line of scrimmage with no snap or rushers.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, the son of longtime college football coach Jack Harbaugh, didn’t hesitate to send Dicker on to the field to try the leisurely kick.

And without having to deal with the timing of a snap and hold, or fear of hard-charging opponents seeking to block the kick, Dicker knocked it through the uprights, cutting Denver’s lead to 21-13.

The last successful free-kick field goal was by Ray Wersching, who did it for the then-San Diego Chargers during the 1976 season, 48 years ago.

Jim Harbaugh said he was well aware of the obscure rule and said he’s regularly thinking of ways to take advantage it.

“It’s my favorite rule in football,” the smiling coach told reporters after the game. “Just trying to get one of those in every game.”