Chargers kicking meltdown: Why Cameron Dicker’s unhealthy day was so stunning

There have been loads of the explanation why the Los Angeles Chargers misplaced to the Houston Texans on Saturday, however essentially the most stunning one was the truth that Cameron Dicker had the primary meltdown of his profession.

The Chargers kicker value his staff 4 factors with a missed 32-yard subject objective and a missed additional level within the 20-16 loss. Dicker lacking two quick kicks in a single sport may need been essentially the most statistically inconceivable kicking meltdown the NFL has ever seen. Going into Week 17, Dicker had made 94.1% of his subject objective makes an attempt, which makes him essentially the most correct kicker in NFL historical past (No different kicker is even at 90%). 

Dicker had by no means missed two kicks in a single sport in his whole profession, however that modified towards Houston. The primary miss got here with slightly below 20 seconds left to play within the first half. After Elijah Molden got here up with an enormous interception, that set the Chargers up with the ball in Houston territory. The Chargers drive ultimately got here to an finish at Houston’s 14-yard line and that is when Dicker was despatched out for a 32-yard subject objective, a kick that is often computerized for him. And once we say computerized, we imply computerized: Going into Saturday’s sport, Dicker had NEVER missed a subject objective from inside 40 yards in his profession (He was 68 of 68). However then that streak got here to a sudden finish. 

The kick would have minimize Houston’s result in 14-6, however with the miss, the Texans went into halftime with a 14-3 lead.  

The one factor extra gorgeous then Dicker’s subject objective miss was his missed additional level, which got here with simply over three minutes left to play within the fourth quarter. After a 5-yard landing run by Omarion Hampton minimize the result in 20-16, Dicker had an opportunity to trim the result in simply three factors, however as a substitute, he shanked the additional level.

Going into that kick, Dicker had made 57 straight additional factors within the common season. 

It is not possible to say how the sport would have performed out if Dicker made each of these kicker, nevertheless it’s very attainable that the Chargers would have taken the Texans to extra time. 

Let’s to a fast recap of Dicker’s gorgeous meltdown: 

• He missed two kicks in a sport for the FIRST time in his profession
• He missed a subject objective from inside 40 yards for the primary time in his profession
• He solely had two misses all season on 71 kicks (Area targets and further factors) going into Week 17
• His streak of 57 straight profitable additional factors got here to an finish

And all of this occurred to a kicker who was simply voted to the Professional Bowl final week because the AFC’s kicker. Dicker had solely missed a complete of two kicks ALL season, which is why he bought the Professional Bowl nod. Going into Week 17, he was 36 of 38 on subject targets this yr, together with 19 of 19 from inside 40, and he was 33 of 33 on additional factors. 

The one excellent news for the Chargers is that they’ve already clinched a playoff spot, so Dicker will possible get an opportunity to redeem himself within the postseason. 

With the Chargers’ loss, the Broncos clinched the AFC West, which suggests L.A. could possibly be in spot to relaxation its starters in Week 18 towards Denver.