On Thursday night, Derius Davis of the Los Angeles Chargers made a fair catch at his own 38-yard line—meaning no one could tackle him, and his team would get the ball at the spot of the catch. A penalty against the Broncos moved the ball to Denver's 47-yard line. This set up a play that had not been accomplished in 48 years. A less-known rule allows a team that makes a fair catch to attempt a free kick, which the opponent cannot block. This is so rare—why give the ball away?
Throughout NFL history, many obscure rules have been invoked under surprising circumstances. On Thursday, the situation with Derius Davis highlighted how certain rules are seldom used until a unique set of circumstances arises. The rare combination of a fair catch and a penalty brought this almost forgotten aspect of the rule book back to life, astonishing fans and players alike. It serves as a reminder that the NFL rule book is filled with nuanced regulations that can have significant impacts on the game.
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