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Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix
Yesterday evening, I watched the Colts and Bears battle each other in the season debut for both teams. During the game, Chicago scored a safety (worth two points) by tackling an Indianapolis running back in his own end zone. That got me thinking…
Suppose an NFL team won a game
by the final score of 11 to zero.With no regard to the order
in which those points were scored,
can you name the FIVE different scoring
combinations that would total 11 points?
HERE is the answer.
Pages: 1 2
Actually, it is possible to steal a 2 point conversion on a blocked PAT attempt, or a turnover during a 2 point conversion attempt. In other words, a team scores a touchdown, then, during a PAT attempt, the kick is blocked and returned by the defending team to the other end zone for a 2 point conversion. Also, if a team scores a touchdown, and attempts a 2 point conversion in which the defending team forces a turnover and returns the ball to the opposing end zone.
So there is a 6th way to get these points, similar to the fifth listed way:
2pt Conversion * 4 and a field goal.
Sorry if this is a repeat post
posted by Joel on 9-8-2008 at 7:15 am
Nice thought, Joel, if that were the case, the score wouldn’t be 11-0, since the other team would have scored touchdowns in order to facilitate those 2-point conversion attempts.
posted by Sandy on 9-8-2008 at 7:28 am
3FG & safety
TD with PAT & 2 safeties
4 safeties and 1 FG
TD with missed PAT, 1FG and 1 safety
TD with 2 point conv & 1 FG
Lets not forget the dropkick in lieu of the field goal. Doug Flutie didn’t.
posted by GBurns on 9-8-2008 at 7:53 am
Oops. I missed that part of the riddle– I was merely thinking of ways to get 11 points. Thanks for clarifying.
posted by Joel on 9-8-2008 at 8:01 am
I think I have it.
TD + 2 pt. Conv. + FG
TD + PAT + 2 Safeties
TD (no conv.) + FG + Safety
3 FG + Safety
FG + 4 Safeties
posted by Jon on 9-8-2008 at 8:09 am
Not at all, Joel — you show great knowledge of the game to even know that. I even had to double-check the rules myself to ensure that a forfeit is a 2-0 score no matter what.
posted by Sandy on 9-8-2008 at 8:25 am
Good puzzle! That’s the answer up with which I came. (Is it OK to end a sentence with a preposition?)
I always thought a cool way for a team to score EXACTLY one point would be: block and recover an extra point try, run it back ALMOST to the end zone and drop kick it through the goalposts. Theoretically, I think it’s possible and doesn’t violate any rules, but would be totally impractical considering that team would still be losing by at least 5 points.
posted by TomH on 9-8-2008 at 1:10 pm
Touchdown w/missed extra point (6) + Field Goal (3) + Safety (2) = 11
Touchdown (6)+ Extra Point (1) + Two Safeties (4)+ 11
Touchdown (6) + Two Point Conversion (2) + Field Goal (3) = 11
Three Field Goals (9) + Safety (2) = 11
Field Goal (3) + Four Safeties (8) = 11
posted by leigh on 9-8-2008 at 1:30 pm
Actually, in a pro game, if a team turns the ball over on the PAT, the play ends. Only in college could you get 2 points by returning a PAT turnover, not to mention the 1-point safety that has something to do with getting a turnover on a PAT then being safetied (not sure on that, but I seem to remember it happening a few years back).
posted by Anonymous on 9-8-2008 at 5:21 pm
Ah, he did specify NFL. In the Arena Football League there is also the option of the 4 point dropkick Fieldgoal - which is about as rare as a soutout in the AFL.
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 9-8-2008 at 9:52 pm