In a surprising turn of events, the NFL has acknowledged an equipment error that impacted a crucial field goal attempt by Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard during their Week 5 victory over the Cleveland Browns in London. Despite this admission, the league has decided not to adjust the official statistics, leaving Reichard’s record blemished by a miss that was not entirely his fault.
The Controversial Miss
The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of the Vikings’ 21-17 win over the Browns, with the score at 17-14 in favor of Cleveland. Reichard, a rookie kicker drafted by the Vikings in 2024, lined up for a field goal attempt to tie the game. However, the kick veered unnaturally to the right, missing the uprights. Replays later revealed that the ball had struck a camera cable, causing its erratic trajectory.
Embed X: https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/1977189372400160958
Reichard’s camp, along with the Vikings’ front office, submitted a formal request to the NFL to have the missed field goal removed from his record, citing the clear interference from the television equipment. According to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, who reported on X on October 11, 2025, “Sources: #Vikings K Will Reichard’s agents and the team’s front office requested that the NFL remove his missed FG from last week’s London game after it clearly struck a camera cable, causing the ball to take an unnatural turn to the right.”
Despite the evidence, the NFL ruled against making a statistical adjustment, even though they acknowledged the missed call. This decision has sparked debate, as the miss remains the only blemish on Reichard’s otherwise perfect 2025 season.
NFL’s Stance and Inconsistent Rulings
Initially, the NFL was hesitant to admit the cable’s role in the miss. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio noted on “Football Night in America” on October 5, 2025, that the league claimed they “didn’t have a clear view of the ball hitting the cable.” However, the eye-in-the-sky footage clearly showed the interference, contradicting the league’s initial position.
Embed X: https://twitter.com/TrainIsland/status/1974886343110263209
This was not an isolated incident. During the same week, a similar issue occurred in a game between the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys. A pass by Jets quarterback Justin Fields was deflected into the Skycam, leading officials to rule it an incomplete pass rather than granting a “do-over,” as suggested by Florio. These inconsistencies have raised questions about the NFL’s handling of equipment-related errors and their impact on game outcomes and player statistics.
Historical Implications for Reichard
The decision to uphold the missed field goal carries significant weight for Reichard, who is chasing a rare feat in NFL history. According to Stathead, Reichard is on pace to attempt over 30 field goals this season, positioning him to potentially become only the third kicker in NFL history to go perfect on at least 30 attempts in a single season. The other two kickers to achieve this were Mike Vanderjagt with the Indianapolis Colts in 2003 and former Vikings kicker Gary Anderson in 1998, who came one win shy of a Super Bowl that year.
Reichard, selected as the No. 203 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been a reliable asset for the Vikings. In his rookie season, he converted 24 of 30 field goal attempts and was perfect on all 16 extra point tries through the first five games. This season, prior to the controversial miss, Reichard was 9-for-9 on field goals and 16-for-16 on extra points, showcasing his consistency and precision.
Moving Forward
While the Vikings secured the victory against the Browns, the NFL’s refusal to correct Reichard’s record has left a mark on his otherwise stellar season. As the team prepares to return from their Week 6 bye to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7, Reichard will need to put the controversy behind him and maintain his focus.
The incident highlights the challenges of integrating technology, such as Skycam, into NFL games without affecting play. For now, Reichard and the Vikings must move forward, but the debate over the league’s handling of such errors is unlikely to fade anytime soon. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Reichard can continue his pursuit of history, despite the NFL’s refusal to correct the record.