Before last night, it had been 48 years since an NFL team successfully converted a fair-catch free kick. Meanwhile, nine consecutive fair-catch free kicks had failed (including the postseason).

Before Chargers kicker Ray Wersching’s 45-yard attempt went through the goalposts in 1976, six attempts had failed. That’s 15 of 16 unsuccessful fair-catch free kicks before Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker’s 57-yarder cut the Broncos’ lead from 21-10 to 21-13 last night.

It was a record that surpassed Hall of Fame Packers kicker Paul Hornung’s fair-catch free kick in 1964.

The first attempt after Wersching came in 1979, when Washington kicker Mark Moseley (the 1982 NFL MVP, so to speak) attempted a 74-yard fair-catch free kick. Seventy-four meters. As a straight-on kicker.

The next year, the Broncos’ Fred Steinfort tried a 73-yarder.

The last attempt before Thursday night occurred in 2019, when Panthers kicker Joey Slye attempted a 60-yard fair-catch free kick.

The first ever fair catch free kick was attempted by Curly Lambeau of the Packers in 1921. It was good from 35 meters.

It is rarely used. It works even more rarely. On Thursday night, the Chargers provided a much-needed halftime spark with an unexpected three points.