Does anyone know any place on the 'net to get video of Doug Flutie’s drop-kick against Miami?
I tried the Pat’s official site, but it said, due to blackout rules, it couldn’t show clips until all the games were finished.
Maybe try that one a little later?
Can anyone explain why a drop kick was even attempted? Isn’t a regular field goal PAT much more reliable? Or, was it a bungled two-point conversion?
It was done because it was unique, it hasn’t been done since 41 because it is a stupid play. The only reason Flutie did it was because he can. It was probably the last play of his football career and they wanted him to do something memorable. It was a meaningless game for the Pats so if he didn’t make it who cares.
You can see it here if you click on the Pats/Dolphins highlights. It’s about 3/4ths of the way through. It’s not a great shot of it; it’s kind of distant.
Thank goodness for DirecTVs Sunday Ticket. I saw the kick live. 
Can someone explain to me what a drop kick is? Everyone is making a big deal out of it and I want to know why. Is it not done because it’s hard to do, or, as someone else said, just stupid?
Well, in the modern era, because of the shape of the ball, it’s a bit of a silly play.
It’s odd. I was joking to my brother during the Bears game yesterday afternoon that they should attempt a drop kick just since nobody’s done it in the longest time. And today I find out that Flutie did just that yesterday and made it. Weird.
Very interesting. I’ve been an NFL fan forever, and I’d never heard of this play until yesterday (much like the “field goal from a tee” that the Titans tried last year).
I’ve always admired Flutie; glad to see him go out with something historic, even if not a Super Bowl.
Wow. Seems like I picked a good time to ask this question!
Well, the Pats ARE in the playoffs, so Doug still has a chance at getting a ring, don’t you think?
Field goal from a tee? How does that work?
On the play immediately following a fair catch, you are allowed to do
Zoops, sorry.
On the play immediately following a fair catch, you are allowed to do a fair catch kick. Basically, this is a kickoff from the line of scrimmage, although I believe you’re allowed a choice of a kickoff, drop kick, or punt. If this kickoff goes through the uprights, it’s a field goal for 3 points. The Titans tried this against Houston last year, but the kick came up short.
Drop-kick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life
End over end, neither left nor to right.
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Drop-kick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of life.
Words and music by Mr. Paul Craft.
Big hit for Mr. Bobby Bare
Cornyest country song ever.
Yes, maybe so, but I have to say that “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor On The Bedpost Overnight?” has to be a good runner-up. 
According to the NFL’s Digest of Rules, no tee is allowed on a fair catch kick.
That’s weird. I confess I didn’t actually see the Titans’ fair catch kick attempt; all the sources I can find say a fair catch kick is a field goal attempt that’s done “like a kickoff.” The official NFL rules say “no tee,” but that’s the only reference I see to a tee either way.
So how do you kick something “like a kickoff,” but without a tee? Did the Titans use one? Or do you use a holder, as they do in NFL games when it’s too windy for the ball to stay on a tee?
Using a holder seems lame: that’s not “like a kickoff,” it’s “like a field goal.”
I believe they mean “like a kickoff” as in there is nobody trying to block the kick.
The key of why it’s like a kickoff is because the defense has to line up 10 yard away from the line of scrimmage, just like they do in a convential kickoff. So formation of the guys on the field is naturally set up like a kickoff on a windy day except the kicker doesn’t have the advantage of using a tee. You’d still have people spread out into “lanes” as on the kickoff as it would guard against the defense picking up a short kick and returning it the other way. Since there’s little chance in blocking a kick like this, unlike convential field goals kicked from 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage, setting up a return would be the main focus of the defensive players, I’d imagine.