EXTRA POINTY
The extra point (A/K/A the point after, the PAT or the conversion) in football is two things – automatic and boring.
Over the last four seasons, NFL kickers made 99.5 percent of their extra point tries. It’s a play almost not worth watching, except for that extremely rare case where the snap, the hold or the kick goes awry.
The NFL moved to add more excitement for the 2015 on Tuesday by voting in new rules for the kicked extra point that should also encourage more teams to try for the two-point conversion.
For kicks, the ball will now be spotted at the 15-yard line, instead of the 2. That’s going to make these attempts the equivalent of a 32- or 33-yard field goal. A try for two points will still be spotted at the 2, but the defensive team can now return a fumble or an interception and get two points of its own if it can make it the 100 yards or so to the other end zone.
The NFL game didn’t lack for excitement, but these changes will bring to bear new strategies. Teams tried only 59 two-point conversions last season and succeeded on 28. More PATs will be missed now, forcing teams to try to make up that deficit with a two-point try. Kickers have become so accurate that the PAT had become an assumption.
The rule change is only for the coming season, so it can be revisited. Thirty of the 32 teams voted for it (Oakland and Washington were opposed).
It’s worth this one-year look. It will change the game for the better.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .
Connected S1:E15 Time To Be A Grown-Up
Ashton Kutcher Slams Media
-
Is Jake Gyllenhaal the Next Batman? In a recent interview with Screen Rant, acclaimed actor Jake Gyllenhaal revealed his...
-
Famous British Olympian Retires After an illustrious career adorned with numerous accolades, Dame Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female...
-
We LOVE a Good Marvel Movie! Marvel fans have much to look forward to in 2024, with an exciting...
-
Manchester City Brings it Home with a 3-1 Victory! Following Manchester City’s impressive 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen in...
-
Joseph Morgan, known for his role “Klaus Mikaelson” has returned to the screen in the highly anticipated second season...
-
Murray’s New Goals Before Retirement Andy Murray, the renowned British tennis player and three-time Grand Slam champion, has shared...
-
Mixed Feelings About Madame Web The release of Marvel’s “Madame Web” has sparked a range of reactions, from scathing...
-
Kylian Mbappe led Paris Saint-Germain to a resounding 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their...
-
Marvel’s Frenemies Back on Screen in Deadpool 3 Move over, Spider-Man; there’s a new record-breaking superhero duo in town!...
-
Klopp acknowledges defensive flaws as Liverpool suffers unexpected defeat against Arsenal. Following Liverpool’s unexpected defeat against Arsenal, manager Jurgen...
-
Remake of a Beloved Series Keeps Fan Anticipating with Excitement Netflix, the world’s leading streaming entertainment service, is set...
-
Ryan Mendes’ Heroic Penalty: Captain Leads Cape Verde to Victory In a historic moment for Cape Verde, the national...