Football is one of the most popular sports all across the world. If you will notice football scores, you can see teams that score two points.
In such a scenario you may wonder how they receive those points. Well, you may consider it as the 2 point safety in football. But what is 2 point safety?
2 point safety is a safety that is worth two points. When safety is awarded to the defense to get tackled out of their end zone, the defense gets awarded with 2 points. Also, they get possession. It means that the offense has to kick the football to the opposing team.
Two Point Safety
Safety is a very significant factor in football. It is the action of an offensive player that gives the ball impetus. A safety gets awarded to the defending team when it sends the ball into the opponent’s end zone.
Safety is also awarded when the offensive team commits a penalty that needs to have the ball marked in its end zone. Therefore safety is worth two points.
A try for an extra point is awarded after a touchdown during the scrimmage down. This extra point will be successful when the kicker kicks the ball between the uprights of the goalpost and above the crossbar.
Thus the teams should make their extra point attempts. When a team feels confident or desperate, they can attempt a 2 point safety after scoring a touchdown.
The offense gets the ball on the 2-yard line and advances the ball across the goal line.
Overall, we can say that safeties are rare, but they are beneficial for the team. However, for the defense, it is only two points, but then the team gets the ball back.
So, the two-point safety is kind of a bonus. Sometimes it is beneficial for the offense. Sometimes, the team takes an intentional safety and becomes able to free kick the ball away from punting under pressure from their end zone.
Sometimes it is not worth it to the defense to get that safety. If the opponent team is backed up on their one yard line, it will be better to let them punt and take over the ball inside the opponent’s 40-yard line.
What Is A Safety?
In American football, safety is how the defense or special teams score points. Usually, the safety position is part of the defensive backs.
In football, safety is when the offense commits a foul in their end zone and tackles the ball out of their end zone.
The safety results in 2 points for the team. According to the NFL rulebook, if the offensive team commits a foul in their end zone or if somehow the ball gets sent behind its goal line, it will be considered a safety.
Scoring 2 points safety is possible when the offense makes a mistake with the football or their blocking schemes.
However, safeties are rare in football, but it happens if the offense won’t be careful with their play calling. It usually happens when the offense is backed up to its own territory.
When Can a 2 Point Safety Happen?
According to the school, college, and professional football rules, when a safety happens during a two point conversion or point after kick, it is worth one point.
Safety can be scored by the offense in professional football if the defense obtains possession of a live football. A two point safety can be attempted immediately after a scored touchdown.
However, a one point safety is very rare and it’s not a negative point either. Two point safeties are a pretty common occurrence.
So, when safety is recorded, it is worth two points. In more than 99% of safeties, these have been recorded for 2 points.
However, there are some instances also where safeties have been recorded but it didn’t record two points.
Instead, it only scored one point. Usually, most teams try to kick an extra point from the outside of the end zone. It is already worth one point.
Two earn one extra point, the offensive team gets one play to pass the ball into the end zone. Thus the team earns two-point safety.
What is the Difference between 1 Point and 2 Point Safety?
1 point safety is when a team tries a 2 point conversion or PAT turn over the ball. In this condition the defense takes the ball out of the end zone and gets tackled in the end zone for a safety.
1 point safety is possible only when the offense is on an extra point or 2 point conversion and attempts to get tackled in their end zone.
This situation is considered as one point safety or conversion safety. 1 point safety is not an obvious scene in any game. It is possible through a series of events.
On the other hand, when safety is awarded to the defense to get tackled out of their end zone, the defense gets 2 points. Consequently, they get possession as well.
It means the offense needs to punt or kick the football to the opposing team. Usually, most teams try to kick an extra point and field a goal from outside the end zone that is worth a point.
To earn two points the offensive team gets one play to run the ball into the end zone by starting from the opponent’s 2 yard line. Thus they get a 2 point safety.
Conclusion
When a team has possession over the football, the team can score points in many ways. There are several ways like field goals, two point conversions, touchdowns, and safeties that help to increase a team’s score.
In football, safeties play a significant role. In gridiron football, safety touch or safety is a scoring play that results in 2 points for the scoring team.
However, it sounds like it’s worth only 2 points. But you should remember that the team that scores the safety gets the ball back on a kickoff.
It ensures more points for that particular team. Hopefully, now you have a clear idea about 2 point safety in football.
