During the Thursday Night Football coverage of the Minnesota Vikings-Los Angeles Chargers game on Prime Video, NFL fans accused Al Michaels of jinxing one of the league’s most reliable kickers. The Chargers had a successful drive with Justin Herbert leading a seven-play, 61-yard march down the field.
He launched a 40-yard pass to Oronde Gadsden, and two plays later, he delivered a 12-yard ball to Keenan Allen, bringing the Chargers within striking distance. Cameron Dicker, known as one of the league’s most accurate kickers, jogged onto the field with a flawless 15-15 record on attempts this season, including a 55-yarder during a 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders.
Michaels – who’s claimed that he’s never eaten a vegetable – seemed confident that Dicker would make the attempt. “Forty-nine-yard attempt,” he started. “For years, the Chargers were a mess in terms of trying to find a place kicker until they came upon this guy. And he’s been fabulous. Cameron Dicker. Fourth year, played his college ball at Texas, tries to connect from forty-nine out…”
The ball left the place kicker’s hands and sailed through the air, eventually veering wide left. “And of course,” Michaels added.
“We kiboshed (kickers) before. There goes the perfect season.”
NFL fans quickly labeled the veteran sports commentator a jinx online. One fan commented, “I think Al Michaels gets a sick thrill after Jinxing kickers.”
Another added, “Al Michaels right on queue with the kicker jinx. Cameron Dicker never had a chance.” A third fan reacted to the play and said, “Al Michaels has spent this entire game talking about how Cameron Dicker can’t miss a kick of course he was going to miss that.”
The stunning miss thankfully took place with the Chargers maintaining a solid advantage at the half.
With Carson Wentz under center, the Vikings offense couldn’t take advantage of the situation, resulting in a punt on their subsequent possession.
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Minnesota followed up with a botched field goal attempt of its own, as Will Reichard’s 53-yard effort sailed wide right as the clock hit zero before halftime.
The Vikings would find the end zone for the first time in the contest deep into the third quarter when Wentz connected on a brief 4-yard throw to Jordan Addison.
