This Mind-Bending NFL Photo Is, Somehow, Not Doctored

 By 
Sam Laird
 on 
This Mind-Bending NFL Photo Is, Somehow, Not Doctored
Credit: Mike Nowak/Chargers

The sport of American football pretty much boils down to a bunch of really big guys clearing paths for smaller, really fast guys. That's a fact we all know, but it's never been illustrated quite like this.

San Diego Chargers offensive lineman (and appropriately named) King Dunlap is listed at 6-foot-9, 330 pounds on the team's site. His teammate Eddie Royal, a wide receiver, goes 5-foot-10, 185 pounds -- about average size for a normal human. When Royal is next to Dunlap, he looks quite small by comparison, of course -- but what kind of sorcery is this?

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The photo below was taken by Chargers team photographer Mike Nowak. It shows Dunlap blocking to allow Royal to score a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. It hasn't been doctored or altered, according to Chargers.com managing editor Ricky Henne -- but it is quite the optical illusion.

Mashable Image
Credit: Mike Nowak/Chargers

Here's another, slightly less trippy, look at the same play.

Mashable Image
Credit: Bill Wippert

And here's video, if you're interested.

So, to recap: Dunlap and Royal are basically the real-life version of this hilarious Madden glitch.

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