Five Ways to Put Points on the Board
Before we dive into the NFL scoring rules, you should know there are five different ways to score. A team can get points from a touchdown, a field goal, an extra point, a two-point conversion, or a safety. After any score, the team that scored must kick the ball to the other team. This is called a change of possession. Each scoring method has its own value and its own situation where it makes sense.
Touchdown: The Biggest Score
A touchdown is worth six points and is the most sought-after result for any offense. No other play gives a team more points at once. A touchdown happens when the football crosses the goal line, which is the entrance to the end zone. The team must have possession of the ball when it crosses. A player can score by running into the end zone, catching a pass in the end zone, or catching a pass and then running across the goal line. The defense can also score a touchdown. This can happen by recovering a fumble in the end zone, returning a fumble for a score, or intercepting a pass and running it back for six points.
Extra Point: The Point After
After a touchdown, a team can try for an extra point. This is also called the point after the touchdown, or PAT. If the kick goes through the uprights, the team gets one more point. A touchdown plus a successful extra point equals seven points. In the NFL, the uprights are 18 feet and 6 inches wide. The kick is attempted from 33 yards out. In college and high school, the kick is from 20 yards. The kicker’s job is to send the ball between the two uprights that rise from the goal post.
Field Goal: Three Points When the Drive Stalls
When an offense moves close to the goal line but the defense stops them, the team can try a field goal. A successful field goal is worth three points. The ball must travel through the uprights at the back of the end zone. A kicker can attempt a field goal from anywhere on the field, but range is always a factor. Some NFL kickers can make kicks from 60 yards away. For a 60-yard attempt, the team would need to be on the 43-yard line. The kick is always taken from seven yards behind the line of scrimmage. This gives the kicker room to step into the ball. The goal posts sit at the back of the end zone, which is 10 yards deep.
Safety: Two Points for the Defense
A safety is the most unusual way to score because the defense gets the points, not the offense. Most safeties happen when an offensive player with the ball is tackled in their own end zone. The defensive team is awarded two points for a safety. This can change the momentum of a game because it gives points to the team that does not have the ball.
Two-Point Conversion: Risk and Reward
Instead of kicking an extra point after a touchdown, a team can try for a two-point conversion. A touchdown plus a two-point conversion is worth eight points. A touchdown with an extra point is worth seven. To get the two points, the team must cross the goal line in one play, either by running or passing. In the NFL, the play starts at the 2-yard line. In college and high school, it starts at the 3-yard line.
Going for two is riskier than kicking the extra point. Coaches often choose it when they trail by eight points late in the game or when they want to increase their lead by an extra point. For example, if a team is ahead by five points after a touchdown, going for two can make it a seven-point lead instead of six. Another reason to try for two is if the team does not have a reliable kicker.
Final Words
Mastering the NFL scoring rules is the best way to fully enjoy the excitement as a new season kicks off. Whether you are rooting for a blowout touchdown showcase or a tense game decided by a last-second field goal, keeping track of these point values ensures you never miss a beat of the action.
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