Patriots
The kick wasn’t reviewable.
Cameron Dicker has been a reliable kicker for the Chargers this season, making 31 of 33 kicks on the year and all but one of his 23 field goal attempts within 50 yards this season. But his 38-yard field goal right before halftime in Saturday’s game against the Patriots wasn’t a clear make.
The Chargers kicker’s field goal attempt in the final seconds of the first half appeared to travel north of the right upright, causing confusion on whether he actually made the kick. The officials ruled the kick good, but multiple angles of the kick caused some confusion on whether Dicker’s kick actually went in.
In the first angle shown on the NFL Network broadcast, it appeared that Dicker’s kick went north and slightly outside of the upright. The angle from under the field goal post made it appear as Dicker’s kick traveled inside the field goal post. However, it appeared the kick might traveled slightly wide of the field goal post in the angle behind the field goal from the stands.
Multiple Patriots players and coaches showed frustration over the call while fans at Gillette Stadium booed the call. Rules analyst Gene Steratore didn’t seem so sure that it was a made field goal either when he spoke about it on the broadcast.
“It is not reviewable,” Steratore said. “And in the NFL, the entire football must go inside the outside part of the upright. The upright can be involved, but the entire football has to go inside the outside of the upright.
“As you guys can see, even with this angle, it’s very difficult to tell where that football is when it does get to right where the upright is. If it’s in there, it’s fine. If it’s there, we might have a different result.”
Steratore also didn’t take a firm stance when asked how he would’ve ruled the kick.
“Listen, I had a couple of those before I wore the white hat,” Steratore said. “Those are not as easy as people think. That’s a tough call sometimes, fellas.”
Regardless of how the Patriots or Steratore felt about the call, the kick gave the Chargers a 20-7 lead right before halftime.
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2024-12-28 14:52:18
