A touchdown feels like a complete scoring play, but it leaves one more decision on the field. The try that follows can add a point, add two, or turn a comfortable lead into a much tighter game. That is why the extra point matters: it changes the scoreboard, shapes coaching decisions and can decide a close contest.
What is an extra point in American football?
After a team scores a touchdown, it gets one untimed play called a try or conversion. The touchdown is worth six points; the try gives the offense a chance to score more.
- Kick: A successful kick through the uprights is worth one point.
- Run or pass: Getting the ball into the end zone again is worth two points. This is usually called a two-point conversion.
Fans often use “extra point” to mean the kick specifically, while “try” covers the whole post-touchdown attempt. Either way, the play follows every touchdown, even when the result seems likely decided.
The spot varies by level. In the NFL, a one-point kick is snapped from the 15-yard line, making it roughly a 33-yard field-goal attempt; a two-point try starts from the 2-yard line. In college football, both options begin from the 3-yard line, so the kick is shorter. Those differences affect how difficult each choice is.
Why does the extra point matter?
One point can change the result
Football scores often come down to small margins. A missed kick after a touchdown can leave a team needing a field goal just to tie, rather than allowing a later field goal to take the lead. Similarly, a successful try can force the opponent to score a touchdown instead of settling for a field goal.
Consider a team leading 20–14 after its opponent scores a touchdown. If the opponent kicks the extra point, the score becomes 20–21, and the first team must answer with at least a touchdown to regain the lead. If the kick is missed, the score stays 20–20, and a field goal could put the first team ahead. The touchdown is the headline, but the try changes what each side needs next.
It forces a strategic choice
The coach must decide whether to take the relatively familiar one-point kick or attempt a higher-risk, higher-reward two-point conversion. The answer depends on the score, the time remaining, the offense’s strengths and the opponent’s defense.
Late in a game, the math can make the choice clearer. If a team trails by two points after scoring, a kick ties the game, while a successful two-point conversion puts it ahead. If it trails by one, a kick also ties it, but a two-point try could create a lead—or leave the team still behind if it fails. Coaches weigh that risk against how much time remains and whether they expect to get another possession.
Score patterns can matter, too. A coach may choose two points after one touchdown and a kick after another to reach a particular score. These calculations are useful, but they are not automatic rules: a coach may favor the option best suited to the players and game situation.
The kick is not guaranteed
From the stands, a kick can look routine. On the field, the snap, hold and kick must all work in sequence, while the defense tries to disrupt them. A bad snap can force the holder to improvise. A kick can be blocked, pushed wide or affected by wind and pressure. The NFL moved the one-point attempt back in 2015, making it meaningfully less automatic than a very short kick.
Because a missed try can shift the game’s arithmetic, teams rehearse the operation and pay close attention to special-teams execution. The kicker gets the final touch, but the snapper, holder and blocking unit all matter.
Two points can swing momentum
A two-point try asks the offense to advance the ball into the end zone from close range. A well-designed play might use a quick pass, a quarterback run or a misdirection intended to create space. The defense, meanwhile, knows the offense has only one snap to get there.
Success can do more than add a point. It can put a team in front, extend a lead to a more difficult margin or change the pressure on the opponent’s next drive. Failure can leave the score unchanged beyond the touchdown, giving the other team a chance to respond. That tension makes the try a small play with outsized emotional weight.
How a try affects the scoreboard
| Result | Points added after the touchdown | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Successful kick | 1 | Moves the touchdown total from six to seven. |
| Successful run or pass | 2 | Moves the touchdown total from six to eight. |
| Failed attempt | 0 | The touchdown still counts, but no conversion points are added. |
In the NFL and college football, the defense can also score on a try by gaining possession and returning the ball to the other end zone. That return is worth two points. It is uncommon, but it is another reason the play is not merely a formality.
Why teams sometimes go for two
Coaches usually choose the kick when one point fits the situation and the team trusts its kicking operation. They may try for two when they need the extra point to take the lead, when the score makes a one-point result less useful, or when they believe a particular matchup favors their offense.
The choice is also shaped by personnel. A team with a mobile quarterback or a strong short-yardage package may be more comfortable running a conversion play. Another team may prefer the kick, especially if it has a reliable kicker and the game situation rewards reducing risk.
There is no single answer that applies to every score. The best decision depends on the scoreboard, the clock and the likely consequences of success or failure—not just on whether two points sound better than one.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is an extra point guaranteed after a touchdown?
No. The scoring team gets a try, but it can miss the kick or fail on a run or pass. A touchdown is worth six points on its own; conversion points are added only if the try succeeds.
Why do teams kick instead of going for two?
A successful kick adds a point with a familiar, rehearsed play. Coaches choose it when that point suits the score and clock, or when they judge a kick to be a better option than a short-yardage conversion attempt.
Can the defense score during an extra-point attempt?
Yes. In the NFL and college football, the defense can return a turnover or a blocked kick for two points. It is rare, but the try can add to either team’s score.
Is the extra-point distance the same in the NFL and college?
No. In the NFL, the kick is snapped from the 15-yard line and is about 33 yards long. In college, the attempt begins from the 3-yard line, making it a shorter kick.
Final Thoughts
The extra point matters because it turns a touchdown into a more useful—and sometimes decisive—score. A kick, a two-point play or a failed try can alter the points a team needs on its next drive and influence a coach’s choices throughout the game. It may last only one snap, but when the margin is tight, that snap can carry the result.
Aiden Cross is a sports writer and editor at BeliveSports, covering a broad range of sports with a focus on clear, accurate, and practical information. His work covers rules, techniques, player roles, competitions, equipment, statistics, and the details that help readers better understand how different sports are played. Aiden takes a research-driven approach to sports writing, using reliable sources and established sporting information to provide context rather than simply repeating surface-level facts. His goal is to make complex topics accessible while maintaining the accuracy and depth expected by knowledgeable sports fans. At BeliveSports, Aiden contributes to the site’s editorial standards by focusing on accuracy, clarity, useful context, and reader-first explanations.
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