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American football has long been established as America’s most popular sport. The competition at a high school, college, and professional level is fiercer than anywhere else in the world. The objective of the game is to score as many points as possible and the team that has the most points at the end of four quarters of fifteen minutes each wins. For any game, one of the most important things to understand is how the points are scored in the sport because that ultimately helps determine the winner. As fare as American football is concerned, there are numerous ways to score, which I will now break down for you in two sections, Offensive and Defensive.
Offensive
The team in possession of the ball is on offense and there are three ways in which a team can score points while on offense.
Touchdown: A touchdown is the most effective way to score points. A touchdown is worth 6 points and is given when a “live ball is advanced into, caught in, or recovered in the end zone of the opposing team”.
Points after Touchdown (PAT): The Points after Touchdown is a single scoring opportunity given after a touchdown is scored. The PAT is attempted from the two or three-yard line depending on whether the team wants to go for one extra point or two, as they have the option for both. If going for one extra point, the ball can be kicked (either by a placekick or dropkick) through the goal posts that are on either side of the football field (100 yards). When going for two points, the offensive team has to score what normally would have counted for as a touchdown. If either the one or two-point conversions are unsuccessful, than no extra points are given.
FieldGoal: A Field Goal is worth three points and is given when the offensive team place or drop kicks a football through the uprights and over the crossbars of the defensive team’s goalposts.
Defensive
Unlike in a lot of other sports, points can be earned in American football with defensive actions too. The defense can not only cause turnovers (reclaim possession of the ball) while earning points for it while at it. These are like good double plays as it ensures that the defensive team not only gets points, but also gains possession of the ball after the play.
Safety: A safety is worth two points and is scored by the defensive side. It occurs when an offensive ball carrier is tackled in his end zone. Not only are two points awarded to the defensive side, but their offense also receives the ball immediately after the safety occurs for a chance to score again.
Interception: An interception occurs when a ball thrown by the quarterback is caught by a defensive player instead of the quarterback’s receiver. This play does not necessarily result in points scored, but if the defensive player returns the ball to his end zone, the result is a touchdown and the defensive team is awarded 6 points with the opportunity for PAT.
Fumble Return: A fumble occurs when an offensive player loses possession of the football and a defensive player recovers it. A fumble does not necessarily result in points for the defensive side, but if the defense picks the ball up and carries it to the end zone without being tackled, the result is a touchdown and the defending team is awarded six points and an opportunity for PAT.
That would hopefully serve as a good guide for all those looking to follow the game as they can understand the scoring system that much more better.
