A touchdown can be followed by a kick, while a first down keeps an offense’s drive alive. Both terms come up constantly in American football, but they describe different things: one is a scoring attempt after a touchdown; the other is a milestone for gaining enough yards to continue a possession.
The quick difference
An extra point is an attempt to add points after a touchdown. The familiar version is a placekick worth one point. A team can usually choose a run or pass into the end zone instead, a two-point conversion worth two points.
A first down is the start of a new set of downs after the offense gains the required distance—usually 10 yards. It does not score points by itself. It gives the offense more chances to move the ball toward the end zone.
| Term | What it means | Main purpose | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra point | A post-touchdown attempt, usually a kick | Add to the score after a touchdown | Usually 1; a two-point conversion is worth 2 |
| First down | A fresh set of downs after the offense reaches the line to gain | Keep a drive going | None by itself |
What happens on an extra-point attempt?
A touchdown is worth six points, but the scoring team gets a chance to add more immediately afterward. The team can kick the ball through the uprights for one point or try to carry or pass it into the end zone for two. That second option is called a two-point conversion.
The kick is often called the extra point or point-after-touchdown (PAT). In the NFL, the ball is snapped from the 15-yard line for a kicked try, making it a 33-yard attempt because the goalposts are behind the end zone. A run or pass for two starts from the 2-yard line. College football uses different try spots: the kick is snapped from the 3-yard line, and a two-point attempt also starts from the 3.
Coaches weigh the score, the time left, and the strength of their offense when choosing between one and two points. For example, if a team trails by eight and scores a touchdown late, a two-point try can tie the game. If it trails by seven, kicking the extra point ties it instead. The choice can be a crucial piece of game strategy, but it has nothing to do with earning a first down.
What does it mean to get a first down?
On a normal possession, the offense has four downs—four plays—to gain at least 10 yards. The distance is measured from the line of scrimmage, where the ball was snapped, to the line to gain. If the offense reaches that line, it earns a first down and another set of four downs.
Suppose a team faces first-and-10 at its own 25-yard line. A seven-yard run leaves it with second-and-3. If the next play gains four yards, the ball reaches the line to gain: the offense gets a new first down, and the distance for the next series is measured from the new spot.
Teams often use a short pass or run on third-and-short to reach the marker. If they are still short after third down, they may try for the remaining yards on fourth down, punt the ball, or attempt a field goal, depending on field position and the situation. A successful first down can keep a drive alive for several more plays, but it does not guarantee a score.
There is one common exception to the usual 10-yard target. When the offense is close to the opponent’s end zone, the goal line becomes the line to gain. This is called a goal-to-go situation. The offense may have fewer than 10 yards to travel, and crossing the goal line scores a touchdown rather than earning an ordinary first down.
Why the two terms are easy to mix up
Both phrases involve a team getting an opportunity to advance, and both often come up around scoring. But they belong to different parts of the game. A first down happens during a drive as the offense moves the ball. An extra-point attempt happens only after that offense has already scored a touchdown.
Consider a team that drives 75 yards and scores. The touchdown adds six points. The team then kicks a PAT for one more point, bringing the total to seven. That kick does not earn a first down; the scoring play and try are handled separately from the normal four-down sequence. After the try, play resumes with a kickoff.
On the other hand, if a runner gains 10 yards on first-and-10, the offense gets a new first down but no points. The team still needs to reach the end zone—or score another way—to put points on the board.
Related Articles
- Why Is the Extra Point Important in American Football?
- What Is a First Down in American Football?
- What Is Fourth Down in American Football? Rules and Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an extra point the same as a field goal?
No. Both are kicks through the uprights, but they happen in different situations. An extra-point kick comes after a touchdown and is worth one point. A field goal is attempted during a drive and is worth three points if successful.
Can a team get a first down on an extra-point attempt?
No. The try after a touchdown is a special scoring play, not part of the regular four-down series. A successful kick scores one point, while a successful run or pass scores two.
Does a first down always mean the offense gained 10 yards?
Usually, but not always. A penalty can award a first down, and near the end zone the line to gain may be less than 10 yards away. In goal-to-go situations, reaching the goal line is the objective.
Is the extra point always worth one point?
The term is often used for the one-point kick, but teams can choose a two-point conversion instead. If that run or pass succeeds, the team earns two points rather than one.
Final Thoughts
The simplest way to tell the terms apart is to ask what the team is trying to do. An extra point adds to the score after a touchdown. A first down gives the offense a fresh set of plays after it gains enough yards. One is a post-touchdown scoring decision; the other is how a team sustains a drive.
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.