Football is one of the most popular and exciting sports to watch. It’s a strategic game that often comes down to a handful of plays that will ultimately determine the overall outcome of the game.
The best football teams find ways to score the most points while holding their opponent to as few points as possible. In football there are several different ways a team can score points, but a field goal is one of the most important and easiest ways a team can get some points on the scoreboard.
So how many points is a field goal worth in football? A made field goal is worth 3 points. A field goal can be attempted anywhere on the field and if made the offensive team will receive 3 points. If the field goal is unsuccessful the ball will be placed at the spot of the kick and the other team will take possession of the football.
Although field goals are an important aspect of football that can determine the outcome of games, there are also other types of scoring plays that you should be familiar with as well.
Football Scoring
There are four different ways teams can score and receive points in football; field goals, touchdowns, extra points and safeties. Each can play a critical role throughout the game and will ultimately decide who wins and who loses.
Here are the 4 different type of scoring plays in football and how many points are scored for each one.
| Football Scoring Play | # of Points |
| Field Goal | 3 |
| Touchdown | 6 |
| Extra Point | 1 |
| Safety | 2 |
Field Goal
Made Field goal = 3 Points
How it’s scored
A field goal is when the offensive team kicks the ball between the opposing team’s uprights and above the cross bar. A field goal can be attempted anywhere on the field and if made the offensive team will receive 3 points.
If missed, the ball will be placed back at the original line of scrimmage and the opposing team will then have possession of the ball.
Touchdown
Worth = 6 Points
How it’s scored
A touchdown (TD) is scoring play where a team advances the ball into the opponent’s end zone. This can be from passing, running, returning a punt or kickoff return or through a turnover.
Once a touchdown is scored the scoring team is awarded 6 points and can elect to either attempt to kick an extra point or they can go for a 2-point conversion. Most teams elect to kick an extra point unless they are down by a lot.
Extra Point
Made Extra Point = 1 Point
How it’s scored
After a touchdown is made an extra point can be attempted. The ball is placed on the 2-yard line (NFL) or 3-Yard (College) and the kicker attempts to kick the ball through the uprights and above the crossbar. If the ball does go through the uprights the team will receive 1 point.
2-Point Conversion
Successful 2-Point Attempt = 2 Points
How it’s scored
The other option the scoring team has after a touchdown is to attempt a 2-point conversion. The ball starts at the 2-yard line and the offensive team has one attempt or play to advance the ball across the opposing teams goal line. If the team is successful they will score 2 points. If not, they will not be awarded any points but still have the 6 points they scored on the touchdown.
2 Point conversions are more difficult compared to extra points and have an average success rate between 40% and 55%. Which is much lower than the extra point, but you do score 2 points instead of 1 if successful.
Safety
A Completed Safety = 2 Points
One of the most difficult ways to score in football and one you don’t see very often is a safety. A safety occurs when a team is tackled or makes some type of penalty in their own end zone.
If a safety occurs the opposing team will be awarded 2 points and will then receive possession of the ball via a punt.
Safeties are the only way the defensive team can score points without having the ball from a turnover.
You don’t see safeties happen as often as field goals and touchdowns, but they are still an important part of the game of football.
Source: NFL Rules
Related Field Goal Questions
How Important is a Kicker in Football?
Field goal kickers are extremely important in the game of football. Not only can they score points from long distances, but games are often decided on a last second field goal.
Having an elite field goal kicker that can make field goals from long distances and is consistent is extremely valuable and can be the difference between winning and losing games.
Who Holds the Football for a Field Goal?
When the ball is snapped on an attempted field goal the holder is the player who receives the ball from the long snapper and holds it in place while the kicker attempts the field goal.
The holder is typically set on one knee about seven yards back behind the line-of-scrimmage and will receive the direct snap during a field goal attempt.
What’s the Longest Field Goal Ever Made?
The longest recorded field goal recorded in NFL history is when Matt Prater made a 64-yard field goal in 2013. The second longest made field goal in NFL history is held by Tom Dempsey on the New Orleans Saints when he made a 63-yard field goal in 1970.
How Do You Calculate the Distance of a Field Goal?
Many fans often get confused on how long a field goal attempt actually is. A field goal distance is measured between where the ball will be kicked from the uprights of the goal post.
Goal posts are ten yards behind the goal line and field goals are generally kicked from seven yards behind the line of scrimmage. So, you can simply add 17 to how many yards the line of scrimmage is from the goal line.
For example, if the Broncos attempt a field goal from the Packers 20-yard line, that field goal attempt would be a 37 yards attempt.
Football Scoring Questions
Can You Score 1 Point in the NFL?
Surprisingly or not you can score a 1-point safety in the NFL, but it is extremely rare. In fact, it has never happened in the history of the NFL.
It’s only possible if a team attempts an extra point or 2-point conversion and messes things up so bad they would be tackled in their own end zone resulting in the other team scoring 1 point.
What is a Scoring Drive in Football?
A scoring drive in football is when the offensive drives down the field and as a result ends up either kicking a field goal or scoring a touchdown.
Highest Scoring NFL Game Ever?
The highest recorded NFL game was in 1996 when the Washington Football Team and New York Giants lit up the scoreboard in the highest-scoring game in NFL History. Washington won 72-41 while both teams combining for 113 overall points.
Final Thoughts
In football there are so many games that come down to whether or not a field goal kicker can make a late or last second field goal. This makes having an elite kicker that is consistent and can make field goals from long distances extremely valuable.
I hope you have found this information to be insightful and that it helps you on your journey of learning more about the wonderful game of football.