NFL PAT rule changed for this coming season

[bonarae]

This year, PAT's are now optional; if they do, teams will kick it from the 15 yard line, but now, when a defense picks off or recovers a fumble from a 2 point conversion, they can score two points regardless of how far they would recover (except for TD's).

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25189978/nfl-rule-change-extra-point-moved-back-to-15-yard-line-defense-can-score

[PAllen]

So what happens if a team drop kicks after lining up in the shotgun from the 2 yd line? Or worse, a botched handoff on a draw play has a QB running for his life, and he gets a little room and shows off his drop kick skills? Why do the NFL owners continue to screw with this game we love and turn it more and more into TechmoBowl?

[bonarae]

Have you ever watched any CFL game lately? They've also done changes similar to this one in the past few seasons.

[tribe_pride]

So what happens if a team drop kicks after lining up in the shotgun from the 2 yd line? Or worse, a botched handoff on a draw play has a QB running for his life, and he gets a little room and shows off his drop kick skills? Why do the NFL owners continue to screw with this game we love and turn it more and more into TechmoBowl?

If you are going to give examples why things are wrong, don't go so obscure. The only successful drop kick in the NFL since the 1940s was by Flutie on January 1, 2006, for an extra point after a touchdown. I get that it was also attempted once in the Pro Bowl but that doesn't count. I am not a fan of the change but dropkicks don't happen in football

[Laker]

Current PAT kick success is 99%. Field goals from the new range were about 90%. This might add some excitement.

This rule change will be good for Tebow.

[MR. CHICKEN]

.....9% MO'....EXCITEMENT........xboringx.....AWK!

[Lehigh Football Nation]

If they want to add excitement they really need to add the rouge from the CFL

[OhioHen]

Current PAT kick success is 99%. Field goals from the new range were about 90%. This might add some excitement.

This rule change will be good for Tebow.

The percentage from down the middle (eliminating kicks from both hashes) is greater than 97%. Since the PAT will be placed in the center of the field (team's option for placement), the difference for the change will be minimal.

[Hammerhead]

They should eliminate extra point kicks altogether -- just make everyone go for two.

[ngineer]

They should eliminate extra point kicks altogether -- just make everyone go for two.

Howabout run it in for two, pass for one? We could come up with all sorts of permutations.

[OhioHen]

Howabout run it in for two, pass for one? We could come up with all sorts of permutations.

That was the rule for intramural football when I was in college.

[JayJ79]

This year, PAT's are now optional; if they do, teams will kick it from the 15 yard line, but now, when a defense picks off or recovers a fumble from a 2 point conversion, they can score two points regardless of how far they would recover (except for TD's).

I believe that the only way that the defense can score on PAT attempts is if they recover a fumble or intercept a pass, and return it all the way to the other endzone, which will give the defending team 2 points (prior to this rule change, the defense was not allowed any points on such a return in the NFL, only in college, not sure about high school rules). All the articles I see mention it as a possibility on 2-pt conversion attempts (ball snapped from the 2). Not sure if it applies to botched kick-conversion attempts (snapped from the 15).

The defense isn't awarded any points unless they recover the ball and return it all the way to the other side of the field.

Also of note, it is possible for Team A (the team that just scored the touchdown, and is attempting the PAT try) to be awarded a 1 pt safety, if Team A turns over the ball on a try (outside of the endzone), and Team B retreats the ball from the field of play into Team A's endzone, and is then tackled (or perhaps goes out the back or sides of the endzone).