5 Stats That Show Just How Much The New NFL Extra Point Rules Changed The Game In 2015
13 yards can make a huge difference to a team’s stats and strategy
The NFL adopted a new rule this season that moved extra points back from the 2-yard-line to the 15-yard-line, in a move to encourage going for the two-point conversion (still from the 2-yard-line) and make PATs more exciting. And those 13 yards have changed the game - as the 2015 regular season winds down, here’s a look at how the new rule affected gameplay:
- So far this season, kickers have made 94.15% of their PATs (or point after touchdown). That may sound pretty good, but keep in mind that the percentage of made PATs has been more than 97% every year since 1989, and it hasn’t dipped below 95% since 1979. This season, just six teams have made all of their PATs. Last season, just six teams MISSED a PAT. And that’s not an anomaly - there haven’t been more than eight teams that had a single missed PAT over the last five years.
- Just as the NFL suspected, 2-point conversions are significantly up this year. Last season, there were just 28 total successful 2-point conversions. This season, with two weeks remaining, there have been 40 (the Steelers have tried the most, with 7 successful attempts). Teams have attempted 84 this season - last year, that number was just 59. Over the previous five seasons, there have been between 23 and 33 successful 2-point conversions.
- So that’s the basics - let’s dig in. It seems kickers are struggling with the now 33-yard extra point a little more than they struggle with, say, a 33-yard field goal. So far there have been 63 missed PATs to get to the 94.15% percentage. But in terms of field goals between 30 and 39 yards, kickers have missed just 16 for a percentage of 93.04% (214 / 230) - and that factors in kicks of 34–39 yards.
- Who is the worst at kicking longer PATs this season? That’s not even close - the Jaguars’ rookie Jason Myers. Myers has missed 7 - making 31 of his 38 attempts - for an 81.6%. Myers meanwhile has an 85.7% for all his field goals, including a perfect 7–7 from 30–39 yards out.
- On the other end of the spectrum, the Ravens’ Justin Tucker may be the new PAT specialist model. Tucker has connected on every single one of his PAT attempts (26 / 26) but has one of the lowest overall field goal percentages (just 80%) of kickers with more than 20 attempts. He has, however, been perfect inside 39 yards.
What would you do if you were an NFL coach - try to go for two more or kick the same number of now-longer extra points? And as a GM, would you try to bring in an extra power RB, or maybe a proficient pass-catching extra offensive lineman, to complete a 2-point conversion specialty package? Or do you carry another kicker on your team - one that specializes in that now more important 33-yard kick? As a coach, would you take the now 6%+ chance for a missed extra point and only 6 points, or take the 50% chance that your team could end up with 8 points instead of just seven?
Pretty soon you’ll be able to decide whether your team goes for 2 or kicks the extra point - and a whole lot more - thanks to Project Fanchise. Visit http://Fanchi.se for more, and follow us on Twitter at @Fanchise.
