Packers missed out on rare fair catch kick opportunity

Right before halftime, Green Bay could have used one of the most underrated rules in the NFL vs. Detroit

By

Mat Pellizer

Posted

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Few people know about this rule. But a lot of them could have seen it in practice this Thursday at the first Thanksgiving game of the holiday. The Green Bay Packers faced the Detroit Lions and right before halftime, they missed out on a rare fair catch kick opportunity. That’s one of the most underrated and unused rules in the NFL.

The rule is simple. Every time a team calls for a fair catch on a punt, they have the opportunity to take a free kick, known as “fair catch kick”. It consists of the kicker attempting a field goal, but with no snap and no pressure, as the opponent team has to line up 10 yards from the ball.

Putting it in simpler terms, teams align for a “kickoff”. The only difference is that if the ball goes through the uprights, it is worth three points, just like on a field goal. Teams don’t usually do it because of two main reasons:

  1. The punt was great and they are way too far for a field goal try; or
  2. They don’t want to give up a possession to settle for a field goal without even sending the offense to the field.

Packers-Lions situation

However, in the Thanksgiving matchup between the Packers and the Lions, all the factors for a fair catch kick seemed to be fulfilled.

  • Green Bay called a fair catch on a punt
  • The ball was 66 yards away from the goal post (a difficult kick, but not impossible)
  • There were only five seconds left for halftime

Instead of opting for the fair catch free kick, Green Bay ran an offensive play. They advanced 11 yards and called a timeout with one second left. Then they attempted a 63-yard field goal. And the kick was short. So here is the question. What is better? Kicking a 63-yard field goal or a 66-yard free kick? Here are some differences for the kicker to help you answer that.

On a field goal, the kicker is usually three steps behind the holder. Between the snap, the hold, and the kick, the kicker has less than two seconds to kick the ball. The closer they get to two seconds, the more likely to be blocked they are. On a free kick, on the other hand, it works almost like a kickoff. The kicker can run as much as they want and they can take as much time as they need. There is no risk of block.

This is an obscure rule that was used really few times in the NFL. It could’ve been used again today. It is definitely easier for the kicker to make a further kick if he has the opportunity to take more steps back. And, of course, there is no rush. No block. Now, see a compilation of fair catch kicks in the NFL.

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