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How do extra-point kicks and two-point conversions differ after a touchdown?
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American football
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during Super Bowl LVII, 2023; the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In American football, after a team scores a touchdown, they are granted an opportunity to earn additional points through a conversion attempt. The primary differences between these options are the method of execution, the point value, and the placement of the ball.1
- Extra-Point Kick: The scoring team attempts a placekick through the goalposts. If successful, it is worth one point. In the NFL, this attempt is made with the ball placed at the 15-yard line, whereas at other levels, it is typically placed at the 3-yard line.1
- Two-Point Conversion: The scoring team attempts to run or pass the ball across the goal line. If successful, it is worth two points. In the NFL, this attempt is made from the 2-yard line, while at other levels, it is typically attempted from the 3-yard line.1
While the extra-point kick is the more traditional choice, the two-point conversion offers a higher reward at the risk of a more difficult play, as it requires advancing the ball into the end zone rather than kicking it through the uprights.1