Why don't coaches go for two

[ngates815]

No. Why would they go for two? If you don't get it you lose. My point is if you don't get the two you tie. I wouldn't do it every time but if I had to kick the ball off to say Peyton Manning I am going for two. If I have to kick it off to Matt Moore I will just kick the PAT.

Well why wouldn't they? If it's such an easy thing to do, why wouldn't you just go for the 2 to win the game, and not go to overtime? where the other team could get the ball first and get 2 first downs and kick a field goal.



It is not a good move to go for 2 when up by 7. You always kick the Extra point, to put the pressure on the other team to take the shot at a low percentage 2 pt conversion. Because then worse case scenario you go to overtime. If you go for 2 and miss, then the worst case scenario is the other team scores, goes for 2 and wins.

It just doesn't make much sense what you're saying.

[BewareOf5Dimes]

I just lost a huge post because I didn't log in. But I agree about going for two to go up 9 very late in the game.


1) The right move is usually the one that the opposing team and coaches don't want you do to. If you are down one and the other team scores with one minute left, you want them to kick the extra point so you have a chance. You do not want them to go for two and end it.

2) Last year when Belechick caught all that heat for going for it on 4th down in his own territory against the Colts, he made the right move. If you looked at the sideline, the Colts coaches and Manning were sick that he was trying to end it. They wanted him to punt.

3) Coaches are generally idiots. Rex Ryan single-handedly tried to give away the game last night with his two-minute play-calling. Ken Whisenhunt from Arizona actually threw a pass (that was caught and fumbled and almost scooped up by New Orleans), when Arizona had a 3rd down in New Orleans territory with 59 seconds left and New Orleans had no timeouts. Arizona was up 3. If the QB kneels down they can punt it through the end-zone with about 3-4 seconds left. Unreal.

4) At least three times Sunday and Monday a defensive player scored on an interception return where his team would have had a greater chance of winning had he fallen down. The Raiders game, Arizona, and then last night. Two weeks ago the guy from San Fran cost his team the game after getting stripped trying to score.

5) In college, all of the teams ask to play defense first in Overtime. This practically guarantees that they will be down when they get the ball. The math and logic doesn't even make sense. They claim that they want to know what they need, but so often they are down 7 and the best thing they can do is tie the game, unless they score and go for two. I would take the ball there and punch it in for 7. I don't know how they can choose the scenario that practically guarantees that they will be playing from behind. Once the defense knows that you need to score 7 they can adjust to that. I think you should go on offense and maintain the upper hand.


Casual sports fans have far more game intelligence than players and coaches. When you watch 10,000 games you have seen everything. The coaches and players don't have that much experience seeing those situations as the fan does. The fan gets to watch all of the games year after year after year.

[tltaylor89]

Too risky

[BewareOf5Dimes]

You have to understand the concept of risk and reward. There is the immediate reward of winning the game on a 50-50 proposition right there. If you kick the extra point to go up 8 you cannot win it right there. So, for the opportunity to win it now, you only have the downside of going to overtime IF the other team scores a TD. The point is that you can take control right now and have a 50-50 chance to win right now, or you can kick the extra point and then have the other team have a 50-50 chance to tie on their two-point conversion.

If you make the two you win. If you miss the two you still likely win. If you kick the extra point you cannot win right there, you will have to sweat that same two point conversion on defense. If they are both 50-50 then you might as well take control and try to end it.

[GiveMeaBJ]

Well why wouldn't they? If it's such an easy thing to do, why wouldn't you just go for the 2 to win the game, and not go to overtime? where the other team could get the ball first and get 2 first downs and kick a field goal.



It is not a good move to go for 2 when up by 7. You always kick the Extra point, to put the pressure on the other team to take the shot at a low percentage 2 pt conversion. Because then worse case scenario you go to overtime. If you go for 2 and miss, then the worst case scenario is the other team scores, goes for 2 and wins.

It just doesn't make much sense what you're saying.

Listen guy, here is what I am saying. It's not an easy think to do. My argument is the risk is very small compared to the reward. The reward is making it a 9 point game and ending the game. That's it, no bullshit, they need a score, onside kick, score. Not happening. The risk is you leave them down 7. If they score you still have whatever time may be left on the clock + overtime. Or you can just stop them anyway. My argument is the % of times the won't score down 7 + the % of times you end it by converting the two makes the risk worth the reward. Plus if you kick the extra point how often do they score and get the two anyway?

[freeVICK]

I go for 2 every td when I play madden