The NFL re-introduced the idea of going for 2 points after touchdowns in 1994. (It had been used in the AFL, but did not carry over when the two leagues merged.) For most of its existence, teams have been successful in the neighborhood of 50 percent of the time. Sometimes a little better, sometimes a little less. But not in 2017.
Through the first eight weeks of the season, teams have attempted 42 2-point conversions. You might think they'd be getting better at it, what with it being in place for more than 20 years, but in fact it appears the defenses are the ones improving. Because teams have been successful just 13 times -- under a third (31%).
| NFL 2-POINT CONVERSIONS, 2017 (SO FAR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Con | Att | Success |
| PHI | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| CLV | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| MIN | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| NE | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| HST | 2 | 4 | 50% |
| CHI | 1 | 2 | 50% |
| SEA | 1 | 2 | 50% |
| BLT | 1 | 3 | 33% |
| DET | 1 | 4 | 25% |
| TB | 1 | 5 | 20% |
| ARZ | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| ATL | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| DAL | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| DEN | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| GB | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| IND | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| JAX | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| KC | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| LAC | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| NYG | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| NYJ | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| PIT | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| SF | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| TOTAL | 13 | 42 | 31% |
Philadelphia can keep on attempting them; they've converted all three of their tries. At the other end of the spectrum is Tampa Bay; just 1 of 5 thus far.
--Andy Richardson