In football, you can get 2 points in a game through a two-point conversion. This is an option a team has after scoring a touchdown. Instead of kicking an extra point, they can choose to run or pass the ball into the end zone from the 2-yard line (in professional and college football). Achieving this successful play adds two game points to their score.
Football games are won by scoring more points than your opponent. While touchdowns (worth 6 points) and field goals (worth 3 points) are the most common ways to accumulate points, there are other crucial scoring plays that can impact the final outcome. One such scenario, and the primary way to achieve exactly 2 points, is the two-point conversion. But how else might these valuable game points be acquired, perhaps unexpectedly? Let’s dive deep into the methods of scoring in American football, with a special focus on how to secure those elusive 2 points.
The Art of the Two-Point Conversion
After a team scores a touchdown, they have a choice: attempt a standard extra point kick, which is typically worth 1 point, or go for a two-point conversion. The latter is a high-risk, high-reward play.
Why Choose a Two-Point Conversion?
Teams often opt for a two-point conversion for strategic reasons:
- Making Up Deficits: If a team is down by 1, 2, 7, 8, or 9 points late in the game, a successful two-point conversion can bring them closer or even tie the game.
- Momentum: Successfully converting for two points can be a significant morale booster and shift the game’s momentum.
- Risk Assessment: Coaches weigh the probability of success on a two-point attempt against the certainty of a single point from a kick. Factors like the opponent’s defense, the team’s offensive strengths, and the game situation all play a role.
Executing the Two-Point Conversion
The offense lines up at the opponent’s 2-yard line. The play can be a run or a pass. The objective is simple: get the ball into the end zone.
- Offensive Plays: This typically involves a quarterback sneak, a handoff to a running back, or a pass to a receiver or tight end. The offensive line’s job is crucial in blocking for their teammates.
- Defensive Plays (for the opponent): The defense aims to stop the offense from reaching the end zone. They will try to tackle the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage or prevent a pass completion.
Table 1: Comparison of Extra Point vs. Two-Point Conversion
| Feature | Extra Point Kick | Two-Point Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Points Awarded | 1 point | 2 points |
| Starting Position | 33-yard line | 2-yard line |
| Type of Play | Kicking | Run or Pass |
| Risk | Lower | Higher |
| Potential Reward | Lower | Higher |
The Unexpected Way to Get 2 Points: The Safety
While the two-point conversion is a planned offensive strategy, a safety is a scoring play that occurs on defensive plays, and it awards 2 points to the defense. This happens when:
- The ball carrier is tackled in their own end zone.
- The offensive team fumbles the ball out of bounds in their own end zone.
- The offensive team commits a penalty in their own end zone that stops play.
When a safety occurs, the team that was on defense gets 2 points. Additionally, the team that committed the safety must then kick the ball back to the scoring team via a free kick (either a punt or a placekick) from their own 20-yard line.
Scenarios Leading to a Safety
Let’s break down how a safety can happen:
1. Tackling the Ball Carrier in the End Zone
- Offensive Misplay: A quarterback might be sacked in their own end zone.
- Poor Decision Making: A running back, trying to escape pressure, runs backward into their own end zone and is tackled there.
- Blocked Punt: If a punt is blocked and the ball rolls into the punting team’s end zone, and the punting team recovers it there and is tackled, it’s a safety.
2. Fumble Out of Bounds in the End Zone
- If an offensive player is carrying the ball and fumbles it, and the ball then goes out of bounds within their own end zone, it results in a safety. This is more common when a defender is about to make a tackle and the ball carrier tries to reach out for yardage or avoid the tackle by pushing the ball forward, only to have it go out of bounds in their own territory.
3. Offensive Penalties in the End Zone
Certain offensive penalties committed within the offensive team’s own end zone also result in a safety. Examples include:
- Holding: An offensive lineman holds a defender in the end zone to prevent a sack.
- Intentional Grounding: A quarterback, under pressure in their own end zone, throws the ball away to avoid a sack, and there is no eligible receiver in the vicinity.
- Clipping: An offensive player clips a defender in their own end zone.
Table 2: Breakdown of Safety Scenarios
| Situation | Points Awarded To | How Points Are Scored |
|---|---|---|
| Ball carrier tackled in own end zone | Defense | Safety (2 points) |
| Offensive team fumbles out of bounds in own end zone | Defense | Safety (2 points) |
| Offensive penalty in own end zone | Defense | Safety (2 points) |
Special Teams Contributions to Scoring
While not directly scoring 2 points, special teams play a vital role in setting up opportunities for 2-point conversions or even contributing to safeties.
Kickoff Returns and Punt Returns
While a touchdown on a kickoff or punt return is worth 6 points, the field position gained from a good return can set up the offense in prime position for a score, potentially leading to a two-point conversion attempt later in the game.
Blocked Punts and Field Goals
- Blocked Punt in Opponent’s End Zone: If a team blocks an opponent’s punt and the ball is recovered by the blocking team in the opponent’s end zone, it is a touchdown (6 points). However, if the blocked punt rolls out of bounds in the end zone, it’s a safety for the defensive team.
- Blocked Field Goal: If a field goal attempt is blocked and recovered by the defense, it’s a live ball and can be returned for a touchdown (6 points). If the blocked kick rolls into the opponent’s end zone and is recovered by the kicking team, it’s a touchback. If it rolls out of bounds in the kicking team’s own end zone, it’s a safety for the defensive team.
Strategic Considerations for 2-Point Plays
The decision to go for 2 points is a calculated one. Coaches analyze various game statistics and situational factors.
Situational Awareness
- Score Difference: As mentioned, being down by a specific number of points can make a two-point conversion a strategic necessity.
- Time Remaining: Late in the game, every point is critical. A successful two-point conversion can be the difference between a tie, a win, or a loss.
- Team Strengths: Does the team have a strong short-yardage offense or a quarterback adept at making quick passes near the goal line? These strengths can influence the decision.
The Two-Point Conversion Playbook
Teams practice various plays specifically designed for the two-point conversion situation. These often include:
- Quick Slants: A short, quick pass to a receiver.
- Bubble Screens: A short pass to a receiver who moves horizontally away from the line of scrimmage.
- Power Runs: A strong run play designed to push through the defensive line.
- Trick Plays: Sometimes, teams might attempt a fake extra point kick that turns into a two-point conversion attempt.
Beyond the Two-Point Conversion: Other Ways to Add to the Score
While we’ve focused on the 2-point scenarios, it’s important to remember the other scoring plays in football:
- Touchdown (6 points): The primary scoring play, achieved by crossing the opponent’s goal line with the ball or catching it in the end zone.
- Extra Point Kick (1 point): The standard kick following a touchdown.
- Field Goal (3 points): Kicking the ball through the opponent’s goalposts from anywhere on the field during regular play.
- Defensive Conversions (Rare): In some rare instances, a defensive player can recover a fumble or intercept a pass and return it for a touchdown (6 points). If a defensive player intercepts a pass in their own end zone and attempts to run it out but is tackled in the end zone, it’s a safety (2 points) for the offense. This is a reverse scenario of a safety.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can a team score exactly 2 points by kicking the ball?
A1: No, a standard field goal is worth 3 points, and an extra point kick after a touchdown is worth 1 point. The only way to score exactly 2 points through a kick is if the opposing team commits a penalty during your extra point attempt that awards you an additional point, but this is extremely rare and typically only happens under very specific penalty enforcement rules, not as a direct scoring play. The primary and intended way to score 2 points is through a two-point conversion.
Q2: Is a safety always worth 2 points?
A2: Yes, a safety is always worth 2 points to the team that is on defense and forces the outcome.
Q3: Can a team get 2 points on a turnover?
A3: Not directly. A turnover itself doesn’t score points. However, if a defensive player intercepts a pass or recovers a fumble and returns it for a touchdown, that’s 6 points. If the defense intercepts a pass in their own end zone and is then tackled in that end zone (or commits certain penalties there), it results in a safety, awarding 2 points to the offense. So, indirectly, a turnover can lead to 2 points for the other team through a safety.
Q4: What happens after a two-point conversion attempt?
A4: After a two-point conversion attempt, the team that just scored kicks off to the opposing team, just like they would after an extra point kick or a touchdown without any conversion attempt. The game resumes with a kickoff.
Q5: What is the difference between an extra point and a two-point conversion?
A5: An extra point is a kick from the 33-yard line that, if successful, adds 1 point to the score after a touchdown. A two-point conversion is an offensive play (run or pass) from the 2-yard line that, if successful, adds 2 points to the score after a touchdown. It’s a choice the offensive team makes.
Q6: Are there any other ways to get 2 points in football besides a two-point conversion or a safety?
A6: In very rare and specific circumstances, a team could be awarded 2 points through a penalty enforcement on a scoring play, but these are not considered standard scoring plays. For example, if a defensive player illegally touches the ball during a successful extra point attempt, the rules might allow the offense to replay the extra point from a closer position or in some situations, be awarded an additional point. However, the direct and most common ways to get 2 points are the two-point conversion and a safety.
Q7: Does kicking play a role in scoring 2 points?
A7: Kicking is primarily associated with field goals (3 points) and extra points (1 point). However, a successful two-point conversion involves offensive plays, not kicking. A safety, while a defensive score, is also not achieved through kicking by the scoring team; it’s a result of stopping the opponent. Special teams kicking units might be involved in kickoffs and punts, which indirectly influence game momentum and field position, potentially leading to opportunities for 2-point plays.