The Rarest NFL Play Just Happened: The Fair Catch Kick

[@doomhauer69]

I found it funny how Perna was like "They get a free kick?! Is this a new rule?!" when HE was the one who brought this rule to my attention in an older video of his 😂

[@kauztekgaming]

I think he said “I hate this rule” right b4 Dicker drained it 🤣

[@941Earl]

I applaud your grit and pushing through to drop this video after that loss. Dan Campbell is holding tryouts for defense for people with the grit you exude.

[@chaboii]

We're getting perilously close to letting perna walk on at this point

[@Nasty_Jax]

Grit? Lmao dude just wants money regardless of the content.

[@spoiledsalad1851]

@@Nasty_JaxNo shit he’s a KZbinr and needs to feed his family lmao

[@ijustwanttotalk95]

​@Nasty_Jax lmao everyone "just wants money." I hate this argument so much. Everyone is in their job for the money.

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

If Staley still coached the Chargers, Denver would have returned that free kick for a touchdown

[@rmyoung87]

Or Denver scores their own free kick, and it WAS the score that cost them the game, and it made the Chargers lose a playoff spot in the final week.

[@awill891]

I'm not a Chargers fan but I was so frustrated with for years when I see a game like "they have good players, they are near a playoff spot, they're gonna blow it in embarrassing fashion!". And now it feels weird that they are pulling off those wins.

[@BaboonPelotas]

I was so expecting them to start ‘chargering’

[@StephenGamboa]

Na, as rough as the Staley years were for the bolts the broncos still managed to squander games like this. One game that comes to mind was a couple years ago in OT when the bolts punted the ball to the broncos and it was fumbled during the catch when a bronco was blocking bolt (and caused his own teammate to fumble). Gift wrapped the win for the ⚡️😎

[@Zack.G23]

You don’t say that name

[@evilratinc]

The curse wheel getting stuck ended up cursing the broncos

[@sagaswp]

Perna obviously never watched The Price is Right or Wheel of Fortune. It cursed the Bills, or whoever wasn't the Chiefs.

[@oshkiv4684]

Or maybe they'll both be cursed

[@RogueNation.]

It got stuck between the Chiefs/Ravens so no

[@evilratinc]

@RogueNation. Being stuck broke it and it turned on the owner. You can't cheat the devil chiefs.

[@RogueNation.]

@@evilratinc that's your belief. The Broncos were on the wheel and it didn't land there. They played like horse crap in the 2nd half because the Chargers changed their tactics and play-calling. Not only do the donkeys have to contend with the Chiefs, but they're up against Harbaugh. The AFC West is hell.

[@Sez___]

He didn't really go into detail. The two big things is that 1. It is an uncontested kick so they can take their time, it will be a perfect hold, and they can run up into like a kickoff and get a bit of extra distance 2. they kick from the line of scrimage. Making a 64 yard attempt a 57 yard attempt

[@NoFace-ke9pc]

Thanks sexzy

[@boomznbladez405]

he mentioned the first point, but didnt clarify the 2nd, but the 2nd goes without saying i would think

[@imaginarymatter]

The ritual has been performed. Chargering has temporarily been transferred to a new host.

[@inconnu4961]

Ha ha ha ha ha

[@stephencarroll4681]

Yeah, the Bears. Surprised they haven't lost a game on a fair catch kick yet lol

[@paulpeter8435]

For anyone interested, the fair catch kick comes from the ancestor of Gridiron football, Rugby football. It originated as the 'Goal from the mark'. Rugby (which split into two, Union and League) has since taken the rule off the books, League in 1922 and Union in 1977. Most scoring systems in both codes of Gridiron football, Canadian and American, have their origins in Rugby. The Try became the Touchdown The Conversion became the 1 point Conversion (No 2 point equivalent in Rugby) The Drop Goal and abolished Field Goal became the Field Goal (With Drop Goal attempts still allowed in the NFL) The Goal from the Mark became the Fair Catch Free Kick The Penalty has no Gridiron equivalent, but is similar to the FCFK in execution (unimpeded attempt) The 2 Point Conversion, Safety and the CFLs Rouge are unique to Gridiron.

[@MFBloosh]

Missed opportunity to title this “New Worst Play Ever”

[@corrupt2361]

Or “New Worst Rule Ever”

[@sidtech04.]

Nah this is the best play ever

[@sidtech04.]

@@corrupt2361 best*

[@DDWyss]

@@corrupt2361 Exactly!

[@Jojo-u6c]

@@corrupt2361 cuz y'all team lost??

[@aaronhires8620]

I laughed so hard at “Dicker blasted it through the gooch with ease” 😂😂😂

[@matthewb8229]

Dude's knee flexed in a very sideways direction when he was contacted. Glad he seems okay.

[@Bigbadtyrant1]

He later went on to catch a TD

[@Devexxan]

That was the 2nd time Jim Harbaugh has had a fair catch free kick as a NFL coach. He did it about a decade ago as well when he was the 49ers head coach. They didn't make the kick, but everyone was shocked about that call. Was fun to see it again. A very rare play, and especially rare to make it. Happy I was able to see a 2nd one of those in a live game.

[@Nichrysalis]

0:45 There's no "if time expires" to that rule, it's just after every call for a fair catch you have that option.

[@chrism6880]

He showed the rule on screen, but I think he misinterpreted it. The rule he shows does mention "if time expires" but that's to specify that the half will be extended by one untimed down. You're right, though. Any fair catch could be followed up with a fair catch kick.

[@skittybug6937]

Yea. The time expiring was merely because it expired on a defensive penalty, which means the offense gets an untimed down. So it's a rare circumstance combined with another very rare circumstance which sets up this interesting scenario in this case. But again, you are 100% correct in that time did not need to have expired for the kick to be attempted.

[@Mountaineer3615]

I think he means that you would only do this if time is expired. If the offense had that field position with any time left, obviously they would go for the TD.

[@AdamFrom614]

Exactly, time has nothing to do with it. However if you miss, the other team can return it and gets to keep the ball. the only time this would happen is at the end of the half or end of the 4th.

[@njdxnjdx]

This guy should have his videos banned from KZbin for spreading false lies about the rule. Just irresponsible responsible on his part. Should be removed from KZbin, actually should have Trump's new DOJ go after this guy.

[@kolbybenthin]

Sorry Perna rare situations caused by dumb rules is an essential part of this sport (which is the best on earth) and should never change

[@ernestogastelum9123]

He would've felt different if it was the Broncos

[@alanpeel1981]

And this is why you punt the ball out of bounds.

[@NoFace-ke9pc]

100%

[@cyclopsvision6370]

if the kicking team did not touch the punter, the half would have been over

[@nathanielsmith9400]

Totally disagree with your last statement. It doesn't suck. The fact that a Charger kicker gets to repeat this rare event is totally awesome.

[@varan619]

History repeats itself. Chargers previous fair catch kick was Nov 21, 1976. Both times 1) It was the last play of the second quarter, 2) Chargers scored 34 points, and 3) Chargers won.

[@Yune98K]

If I had nickel for every time...

[@Frosty_tha_Snowman]

As someone who returned kicks all through High School and College - that contact was more than enough to call interference...

[@AnneClay-e2s]

That contact was more than enough to qualify as interference for someone who returned kicks throughout high school and college.

[@TheMcK777]

I was sincerely stunned when this happened. Never seen anything like it and probably never will at this rate.

[@Solar424]

Every coach dreams of calling for this and Harbaugh got to live it out

[@shadearion]

Twice, if I recall right.

[@Unz360]

Took him like 5 minutes to figure it out but ya

[@AndrewBlechinger]

Madden often lamented that he always wanted to call for one but never got the stars to align.

[@flibbidyx2]

@@shadearion Yeah, Phil Dawson attempted (and missed) in 2013 when Harbaugh was coaching the 49ers.

[@Zenglehart09]

I was there in person tonight and saw this with mine own two eyes, Perna. I will say that it was just as batshit insane in person then I’m sure the broadcast showed. I even got the whole thing on video.

[@creamyjeremy8949]

Now, Perna knows the rules... and knowing is half the battle.

[@DoctorBiobrain]

The other half of the battle: Kicking Cobra ass! Hooyah! Go Joe! 🇺🇸

[@SHMOUSEY86]

The rarest play in the NFL hasn't happened yet, and it's a 1 point score (not an extra point). It's basically some old school ruling from the days there was a fence at the back of the endzone. If I remember correctly, on a kickoff, the receiving team has to run it almost all the way in, fumble, the kicking team has to then recover it in their own endzone, and run it all the way back across the field to their endzone. Result of the play is a 1 point run, and the rarest play possible in the NFL.

[@coatesmuhgoats6272]

Yup!

[@bl3313]

A safety scored on an extra point attempt is also a one-pointer. I know of two times this has happened in a college game, but I don't think it's happened in the NFL.

[@RoyPage1970]

It hasn't you're right only in college that I know of​@@bl3313

[@lemurtoad3617]

nfl getting us to know this rule so when the chiefs do it in the superbowl we know about it

[@GR1MRACER]

Halftime Perna : "Watch them win by 3" Denver's Defense "And I took that Personally"

[@neilopfer5687]

Thanks for showing this!! Even though I was watching football since the 1960s, for whatever reason I didn't even know this was a rule.

[@JoeWithTheHoesBiden]

How old is bro 😭

[@richardthepastamancer6619]

I love these short format "perna bites" after the games. Keep it up

[@adrianwebster6923]

I would argue the drop kick field goal is rarer but this is still cool.

[@DemonKingBadger]

Probably rarer now, but for all of football history it was somewhat common pre WW2.

[@rivotrich7]

What about the 1 point Safety / Conversion (PAT) Safety? That one is very rare also.

[@thereturners7564]

The 1 pt safety that could be awarded after a (catastrophically) failed extra point attempt it is technically the rarest play of all, since it's possible, but has never happened.

[@pettking7137]

I won't say with 100% certainty but I believe this situation has happened to me playing some old Madden when I was a kid. I remember thinking the game was bugged.

[@woozyguy9]

The broncos went full Charger tonight, never go full Charger

[@joeyjo-jojuniorshabadoo1150]

Impressive Perna made a video about the free kick in the middle of his agony

[@GaryBickford]

I still liked the Chargers better when they were in San Diego.

[@Ill06Taco]

This wasn't caused by the Broncos fair catch penalty. They would never even have had time to punt if Harbaugh didn't call timeout, anticipating the possibility of a penalty

[@bjdon99]

The rarest play in the NFL is the one point safety. It’s so rare it hasn’t happened yet (it has happened in the NCAA though.)

[@flibbidyx2]

This is the second time Harbaugh has made this call. Phil Dawson attempted (and missed) a fair catch kick for the 49ers in 2013.

[@brucesmith9144]

That’s really good coaching to notice this situation presented itself and then taking advantage of it.

[@rickswordfire4774]

Last time this happened, _Star Wars_ wasn't a thing yet.

[@angelguerrero9912]

Dicker the kicker🫡

[@RS-lq6zm]

It could be argued that the 1 point safety is even more rare. It's happened twice in college, but never in the NFL. (unless they've changed the rules in the last few years)

[@flyabusa]

There's ONE rarer play that we've never seen in the NFL. The 1-point safety on an extra-point attempt. It's happened in college football at least twice, but has never happened in the NFL.

[@joeperez3520]

I remember that Ray Wersching kick. Downside, I'm old, upside, I can still remember crap like that.

[@lomax343]

Thanks for this. I got up this morning to watch highlights of the game (which started at something like 1:30 am in my time zone) and thought ... WTF? Always more to learn.

[@rd9102]

That's awesome. Wish i had seen it live but it's still cool to be able to see it period. I was 4 years old the last time one of these worked...damn I'm getting old.

[@froggy5935]

I saw this a few years ago in Lambeau when the packers were playing the lions. Packers fair caught the ball before the half and Mason Crosby attempted a 69 yard free kick. He missed wide left, but the play happened.

[@zacharyjeffares8158]

I remember FPV making a video about this and saying it probably won’t happen for a while. Today is the DAY!

[@Lilzor]

I remember learning about this over the offseason totally randomly. Crazy stuff

[@billball8955]

Great video Brosephus!

[@GoByron3]

I’ve been waiting years for one of these to happen!

[@CrawMaw]

Jim Harbaugh was on the sidelines of SB47 when I first heard of the fair catch free kick rule. Someone in the booth mentions it at the end of the game after the safety if I recall correctly.

[@dentonyoung4314]

Most people associate Ray Wersching with the 49ers. He was with the Chargers until they brought in Rolf Benirschke.

[@glennhubbard5008]

I remember the Steelers lost to the Browns 10-9 in 1982. The Browns had just given a safety to the Steelers with seconds left in the game. The announcer said the Steelers should call a fair catch on the kickoff and try a free kick, but Coach Knoll didn't for some reason.

[@_peytonjames]

Literally as soon as I saw this happen live I knew we’d be getting a Perna video on the whole situation

[@dylanrunner2001]

Let's go Bolts!

[@Calvin-xp4qp]

Ah yes, 1976. I was a young child back then. Hey, shout out to Bruce Jenner, my man was amazing! GO USA!

[@parallelpost]

🇺🇲 1776 - 1976

[@tururutitu]

Thank you so much for this extremely clear explanation!

[@wikedwun]

Nate Kaeding would’ve missed that FG😅

[@Mikemikemike13579]

This is Rugby and incredible! Penalty kicks are awarded in rugby because you cannot let an infraction occur as time expires.

[@FOWLKON1339]

I remember Neil Rackers trying this play about 15~20 years ago.

[@UnchainedAmerica]

And he missed

[@FOWLKON1339]

@UnchainedAmerica it was a 68-yard attempt.

[@pozzowon]

Should get an interview with Ray Wersching. He's still alive

[@dre_withwithout]

Broncos, let’s ride

[@Tadicuslegion78]

What other rare plays are lurking out there to be used?

[@twomasta]

Drop kicks. The last one to successfully attempted was Doug flutie when was a back up for the Patriots.

[@altwolfe14]

five stars. brilliant piece of content. srsly. i break furniture after my team loses. you make gold 🎉

[@diamondd2778]

Thanks Brandan! I had no idea

[@cassesvultus43]

I think Doug Flutie's drop kick was an even more rare play.

[@shanebrooks402]

I'm gonna have to rewatch this tomorrow. Apparently to many beers.

[@StofleTheBadger]

What made this play possible was throwing the ball on 2nd down please tell me why? Terrible coaching and with all the momentum lmao

[@n3r0wolfe]

its hard being a chargers fan.. i was worried we would charger it until the clock hit zero

[@PapaVanTwee5]

When I saw this on Isaac Punts' channel earlier, I forgot it was the Broncos. Of course Perna's gonna cover this, too!

[@HenryZhoupokemon]

Shoutouts to dicker the kicker for holding it down in fantasy

[@SodaMehPop]

All of this could have been avoided had the Broncos not sucked. smh my head

[@stabinghobo57]

Let’s Go Bolts! ⚡️

[@johnbaer1528]

without the penalty, it was a non-issue........sorry Perna.

[@Maria_Banks]

And of course it happens against the Broncos

[@ProgressOnly]

I remember the time the Lions tried it at Lambeau; pretty sure it was Jason Hanson's last season but was like 60+ yards in the wind.

[@markrouse2416]

A KZbin video where the strange title matches the content making it a rare phenomena in KZbin land. great video

[@shanebrooks402]

Nevermind you explained that awesome as usual.

[@KingAlanI]

I love that nuance of the NFL rulebook, too bad I wasn't watching live til I heard about this and watched the rest of the game Even without the penalty yards, it would have been worth a shot. Like you said, defenders staying back means kicker doesn't have to worry about clearing the line or a block. (also, from the spot of the fair catch means no snap sending it back, and no snap or hold to screw up) Defenders having to stay 10 yards back is still a key part of soccer rules; soccer fields have the arc behind the penalty spot and small hashmarks near the corner flags to help indicate this, and refs will often carry a sort of temporary spray paint to help mark the distance in the middle of the field

[@JerGer918]

Merry Christmas, Chargers from the Broncos.

[@scottjohnson9672]

Have you seen Dicker's Allstars game video. 2nd favorite kicker behind Pat.

[@Shadowgrace760]

We forgot it was a rule because it happened in the London game in 2019, so we assumed they were using European football rules

[@Pussaychop]

Was most impressed with Peyton’s cogent accountability for that clustercuss getting interviewed at the half: “we practice that.” I kinda doubt that sourpuss - seems like a good guy, leader of men and such.

[@callmeshaggy5166]

What about a 1-pt safety? A team would have to be attempting a PAT (or 2pt conversion) and turn the ball over, returned to the other end by the defense, turned back over to the offense, who are then tackled for a safety behind their own goal line.

[@nodnarbnaelc6819]

this is the first video of yours I've seen where you aren't cold-reading a script you've just seen for the first time

[@johnhodgson4216]

I just love the Sarcasm. So I subscribed...

[@kylefishing21]

Bill belichick is smiling from heaven

[@CasualDeer]

"Rarest NFL play". Let me introduce you to the one point safety

[@christopherwellman2364]

After last week's loss to the Broncos, as a Colts fan, I'm satisfied.

[@animoetprudentia2865]

Wait, Chargers again?! That's some sorcery right there.

[@henrymagana342]

Thanks for the explanation I was so lost. Lol

[@tylerfelix8629]

Loled! So hard at the 1976 joke LOL

[@davidtorres1696]

Repeat history Nicely done, Dicker ⚡️⚡️⚡️💪

[@scandwich]

Why does perna lowkey sound like the guy from interstellar 💀

[@mariannbrooks8885]

You look like a young Michael Gross from Family Ties 😂

[@sidekickz2180]

It's been a wild season

[@uesikon]

it changed the momentum of the game

[@Flybirdsfly82]

Sorry for late comment Brandon,Good video Brandon🏈,

[@skeezix8156]

I wonder how many of these kicks were potentially left on the field due to just not knowing about it

[@TheMantisStrikesAgain]

While this is rare, I would argue that the 1-point safety is more rare than the fair catch kick.

[@zzzxxzzz3248]

What a great time to be alive !

[@ColtsFan288]

Sean payton was at the receiving end of a special teams play. Sign me up 😊