In the NFL, PAT kicks scrimmage from the 15. If the snap is fumbled, and the offense manages to run the ball into the endzone, I assume they get two points rather than one, but no one I asked was sure enough to confirm that to me. So 1 or 2 points.
From the NFL rulebook, in which a point-after-touchdown play is referred to as a “try”:
For the offense, that translates to a two-point conversion attempt. For the defense, that translates to a fumble recovery, blocked kick recovery, interception return, etc.
(It’s rule 11, section 3, article 2)
The Buccaneers did that just a couple days ago.
There are weirder situations like the offense is intercepted on a two point attempt. The the player who caught it fumbles and the player who was originally the offense runs it in. Right?
I’m pretty sure that that would, indeed, be 2 points for the offense, based on the wording of the rule I quoted.
That’s why, if a team scores a touchdown to take a 1 or 2 point lead near the end of a game, they will go into a victory formation and take a knee on the extra point try. They want to make sure that a try isn’t blocked/fumbled/picked and returned by the defense for 2 points.
Even weirder would be the team on defense recovers, fumbles it into the end zone 80 yards away, the offense recovers and is tackled in that end zone for a safety - the defense is then awarded one point.
Is the defensive 2-point conversion a fairly new thing in the NFL? I know it’s been a rule in college football for eons, but I thought that a change of possession on a try in the NFL means the play is immediately over.
Yes; it was introduced in 2015, the same year that the league moved the line of scrimmage for kick PAT attempts from the 2 to the 15.
Prior to that, a conversion attempt on which the defense gained possession of the ball was blown dead.
Not really.
Before the 2018 season, teams might do this if they scored with no time remaining, because the rules still required the PAT attempt. It famously happened in the Vikings-Saints game in January 2018, which led to the league eliminating the need for the PAT if time has expired and it doesn’t affect the game outcome.
Since that change, it has happened only once when the Texans went up by 2 with 6 seconds remaining, and their kicker has been injured and was out of the game.
In most cases (especially given the comebacks this season with seconds left on the clock), the team is going to kick the PAT when up by 2. And if they are up by 1, they are more likely to try for 2 to make the lead 3. In fact, that has happened several times in the last 8 years.
And if that turns into a pick that the defense takes to the House for a 1 point victory, the coach will be crucified upside down in the media. LOL
I could be wrong but I don’t think a single team has tried for much less succeeded on a fake conversion for 2 points since it got moved back to the 15.
Sure. And if that was a bigger risk than the other team getting a field goal in the last seconds, teams would kneel. But they don’t.
Here are recent examples of them going for 2 when up by 1. I find no examples of them taking a knee.
- Chiefs vs Titans 10/10/2019: https://youtu.be/oJEXxZmJq5k?t=740
- Vikings vs Seahawks 10/11/2020: https://youtu.be/1YIigArbYoo?t=828
- Browns vs Colts 10/23/2023: https://youtu.be/-wsIcWAAn8U?t=828
- Jets vs Patriots 10/27/2024: https://youtu.be/SdUkySR1B_k?t=759
- Bears vs Commanders 10/27/2024: https://youtu.be/tZm9eo8Nkp0?t=617
Please, let it happen! I can see all the talking heads on ESPN really going to town on that. LOL
I watch a LOT of NFL football, and I cannot remember ever seeing this happening. Can you show us an example?
ETA: Ninja’d by @TroutMan, who found several examples to the contrary.
For example, during an NFL playoff game in January 2018 (the “Minneapolis Miracle” game), the Minnesota Vikings scored a walk-off, game-winning touchdown against the New Orleans Saints as time expired. Because the game was already over with zero seconds left on the game clock, the Vikings simply took a knee on the mandatory extra-point try before leaving the field.
There would be more, I’m sure, but the NFL eliminated the mandatory PAT following walk-off TDs.
That was already mentioned and it’s not at all an example of your original claim that it was done with time remaining in the game much mess that it was a typical occurrence.
That example was with zero seconds on the clock as noted above, again by @TroutMan. But you stated ‘near the end of a game’, so that rule change wouldn’t apply to your assertion.
I’m not saying it’s never happened, but you still need to provide some proof.
Yes, @TroutMan (I think) documented that very well`
Well, on September 10, 1988, St. John’s University defeated Iona College 26–24 after a defensive two-point return, marking the first time the play decided a college football game.
I know, you’re going to incredulously say, “THAT is your definition of “frequently”?!” Well, it depends on how you look at it. Measured against the age of the earth, it’s barely the blink of an eye.
Okay, I’ll stop now. 
IOW, when Iona was going for the extra point, the game was tied at 24. St. John’s blocked the kick and returned it for 2 points and won the game.
Again, not an example of your statement. I’m beginning to think that it’s never happened.