Football is one of the most exciting and entertaining sports to watch. It’s a game of team work, toughness, speed, power and it’s all about putting points on the scoreboard and outscoring the opposing team.
There are a few different ways you can score points in football, but none of them are more valuable and important than a touchdown. The more touchdowns a team can score the more games they will end up winning.
So how many points does a team get when they score a touchdown? When a touchdown is scored in football the scoring team will be given 6 points. After a touchdown is scored the team has the option to either kick an extra point or attempt a 2-point conversion.
Although the amount of touchdowns a team scores throughout a game will ultimately decide the outcome, there are other types of scoring plays that you should be aware of as well.
Football Scoring
One of the most exciting things about football is that there are multiple ways teams can score points. 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 |
| Touchdown | 6 |
| Extra Point | 1 |
| Field Goal | 3 |
| Safety | 2 |
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.
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.
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
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.
Fantasy Football Scoring
Fantasy football is a game that is played by fans where they serve as managers and draft football players from different teams to virtually compete with other competitors. Scoring in fantasy football can be a lot different than regular scoring.
Although there are several different fantasy football scoring formats, here is what is consider standard scoring:
Offense:
Quarterbacks (QB), Running Backs (RB), Wide Receivers (WR), Tight Ends (TE)
- 6 pts per rushing or receiving TD
- 6 pts for player returning kick/punt for TD
- 6 pts for player returning or recovering a fumble for TD
- 4 pts per passing TD
- 2 pts per rushing or receiving 2 pt. conversion (note: teams do not receive points
- for yardage gained during the conversion)
- 2 pts per passing 2 pt. conversion
- 1 pt. per 10 yards rushing or receiving
- 1 pt. per 25 yards passing
Bonus Points
- 2 pts per rushing or receiving TD of 40 yards or more
- 2 pts per passing TD of 40 yards or more
- (note: the player must score a touchdown to score the points)
Penalty Points
- -2 pts per intercepted pass
- -2 pts per fumble lost
Kickers (K)
- 5 pts per 50+ yard FG made
- 4 pts per 40-49 yard FG made
- 3 pts per FG made, 39 yards or less
- 2 pts per rushing, passing, or receiving 2 pt. conversion
- 1 pt. per Extra Point made
- Penalty Points
- -2 pts per missed FG (0-39 yds)
- -1 pt per missed FG (40-49 yds)
- (note: a missed FG includes any attempt that is blocked, deflected, etc.)
Defensive/Special Teams (D)
- 3 pts per defensive or special teams TD
- 2 pts per interception
- 2 pts per fumble recovery (Note: includes a fumble by the opposing team out of the end zone)
- 2 pts per blocked punt, PAT, or FG (Note: a deflected kick of any kind does not receive points)
- 2 pts per safety
- 1 pt per sack
Source: ESPN
Final Thoughts
Much like any other sport outscoring your opponent is the main objective of the game. In football there are a few different ways a team can score including field goals, extra points, safeties and most importantly touchdowns.
A touchdown in football is the ultimate objective of any football drive and how many a team scores or doesn’t score will determine the overall outcome of the game.
I hope you have found this information to be insightful and that it helps you on your journey of learning more about the wonderful sport of football.