American football, with its complex scoring system, often yields dramatic moments and nail-biting finishes. Yet, amid the touchdowns, field goals, and safeties, there exist scores that are utterly unattainable within the confines of the game’s rules.
These improbable scores are a testament to the intricacies of American football’s scoring mechanisms. A score of 1-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, and even 7-1, for instance, defies the logic of this popular sport.
Understanding the limitations of attainable scores in American football not only highlights the game’s unique dynamics but also underscores the strategic complexities and decision-making processes that teams navigate as they chase victory on the gridiron.
What Scores Are Impossible in American Football NFL?
In American football, the scoring system is designed to reward teams for their performance on the field, but there are certain scores that are practically impossible to achieve due to the rules and structure of the game.
While the game’s scoring can be quite intricate, with various methods of earning points, there are some combinations that are exceedingly unlikely, if not outright impossible.
Let’s delve into the impossible scores in American football:
1-point Safety
While safety is a relatively rare scoring play in American football, it’s possible for a team to earn 1 point on safety.
However, it is practically impossible for a team to earn 1 point on safety because it would require the following sequence of events: Team A attempts a two-point conversion, Team B intercepts the pass or recovers a fumble, and then Team B retreats into their own end zone and gets tackled or tackled for a safety.
This sequence of events is so unlikely that it has never happened in a professional or college football game.
6.5-point Score
In American football, scoring typically involves whole numbers. While a touchdown is worth 6 points, followed by the potential for an extra point or a two-point conversion (2 or 1 point, respectively), it is impossible to achieve a 6.5-point score through normal scoring plays.
Such a score would require a fractional point, which is not part of the game’s scoring system.
Negative Points
Although it is theoretically possible for a team to lose points through penalties, such as intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety or a penalty on a successful field goal attempt, the game’s rules prevent teams from ending up with negative points on the scoreboard.
If a team commits penalties that would result in negative points, the opposing team is awarded the ball and a chance to score instead.
Scoring on a Touchback
A touchback occurs when the ball is kicked into the end zone and is downed by the receiving team. This results in the ball being placed at the 20-yard line for the offense to start their drive.
It is impossible for the receiving team to score points directly from a touchback. In other words, you cannot score a touchdown or a field goal on a touchback.
Tying the Game with 1 Point
While it is possible to tie an American football game, it cannot be done with just 1 point. In the NFL, for example, ties are rare but occur after overtime periods if neither team manages to outscore the other. Tying the game would require at least a 2-point conversion to achieve an even score.
Why Some Scores Are Impossible in American Football?
Several scores are impossible in American football due to the sport’s specific rules and scoring methods.
The primary reasons for these impossibilities include:
Scoring Values
In American football, the primary ways to score points are through touchdowns (6 points), field goals (3 points), extra points (1 or 2 points), and safeties (2 points). These values are set, and there is no direct way to score other point values.
No Fractional Scoring
American football does not allow for fractional scoring. Points are scored in whole numbers only. This rule prevents scores like 1.5-0 or 2.5-1.
Extra Point Attempts
When a team scores a touchdown, they typically attempt an extra point (PAT) to add either 1 or 2 points, depending on the distance from the goal line.
This rule ensures that scores like 1-0 or 2-1 are unlikely since teams generally opt for the higher point value.
Field Goals
Field goals are worth 3 points, which makes scores like 2-1 or 4-1 impossible. A field goal attempt usually occurs when a team is in scoring range and would opt for the 3 points rather than attempting a lower-scoring play.
Safeties
Safeties are worth 2 points and occur when the defense tackles an offensive player in their own end zone. While safeties can be scored, they are relatively rare and don’t lead to scores like 3-1 or 5-1.
Unrounded Scores
Scoring in American football is based on rounding to the nearest whole number. Therefore, scores like 1-0, 2-1, and 4-1 cannot occur since there is no mechanism for fractional scoring.
Scoring System in Football Soccer
Football, commonly known as soccer in the United States and Canada, features a straightforward scoring system. The objective of the game is to score goals by getting the ball into the opponent’s net.
Here’s an overview of the scoring system in football:
Goals
The primary way to score in football is by scoring goals. When a player successfully kicks or heads the ball into the opposing team’s net, their team is awarded one goal. Goals are worth one point each.
Penalty Kicks
In case of a foul committed by the defending team within their penalty area, the opposing team is awarded a penalty kick.
This is a one-on-one situation between the attacker and the goalkeeper. If the attacker scores, their team is awarded one goal.
Own Goals
If a player accidentally kicks or heads the ball into their own team’s net, it counts as a goal for the opposing team. Own goals contribute to the opposing team’s score.
Golden Goal
In some football competitions, especially knockout tournaments, a “golden goal” rule may apply.
If a team scores during extra time, the game ends immediately, and that team is declared the winner. Golden goals can be used to determine the winner without going to a penalty shootout.
Tiebreakers
In most football leagues and competitions, teams earn three points for a win, one point for a draw (tie), and no points for a loss.
Goal difference (the difference between goals scored and goals conceded) and other tiebreakers like head-to-head results are used to rank teams if they have the same number of points in the league standings.
Offside Rule
It’s important to note that offside infractions do not result in goals. If a player is in an offside position when the ball is played to them, they cannot score directly from that position.
NFL Scores That Have Never Happened
The National Football League (NFL) has seen a wide range of scores over its history, but due to the game’s scoring rules and structure, some final scores have never occurred in NFL history.
Here are a few examples of scores that have never happened:
1-0
A score of 1-0 is impossible in the NFL because the lowest point value awarded in the game is 1 point, which is the result of a successful extra point (PAT) attempt following a touchdown.
This means that if a team scores a touchdown, they would typically attempt an extra point, resulting in a minimum score of 7-0, not 1-0.
Even if a safety occurred, it would add 2 points to a team’s score, preventing a 1-0 outcome.
2-0
Similar to 1-0, the absence of fractional scoring in the NFL makes a score of 2-0 impossible. The only way to score 2 points is through a safety, but this would still require a team to have at least 2 points, as there’s no way to subtract points from a team’s score in American football.
4-0
In the NFL, scoring is based on whole numbers, and the lowest-scoring play is a successful extra point, which yields 1 point.
Consequently, achieving a score of 4-0 is unattainable since there’s no way to add or subtract 4 points in a single play.
5-0
Much like the previous examples, a score of 5-0 is impossible because the scoring methods available in the NFL do not allow for fractional scoring.
The lowest possible scoring play, the extra point, results in 1 or 2 points, making a score of 5-0 unachievable.
5-1
Scoring in the NFL is based on whole numbers, and fractional scoring is not part of the game’s rules. Therefore, a score like 5-1 is not possible since it would require a fractional point value.
9-0
A score of 9-0 is improbable because it necessitates fractional scoring. The NFL’s scoring system is designed around whole numbers, and there is no way to score 9 points with the available scoring methods.
Most Unlikely Football Score
In American football, one of the most unlikely final scores is 1-0. This score is highly improbable due to the game’s scoring rules and methods.
In the NFL and most football leagues, teams typically score points through touchdowns (6 points), field goals (3 points), extra points (1 or 2 points), and safeties (2 points).
Here’s why a final score of 1-0 is extremely rare:
No Fractional Scoring
American football does not allow for fractional scoring. Points are scored in whole numbers only.
The lowest point value awarded in the game is 1 point, which occurs when a team successfully kicks an extra point (PAT) following a touchdown.
This means that a team would need to score at least 2 points to avoid ending the game with a score of 1-0.
Touchdown Scenarios
If a team scores a touchdown, they typically attempt an extra point, which adds 1 or 2 points to their score, depending on the type of PAT they choose.
This means that even if a team initially scores a touchdown to go up 6-0, they would almost always attempt an extra point, making the final score 7-0 or 8-0, not 1-0.
Safety Scenarios
A safety, worth 2 points, occurs when the defense tackles an offensive player in their own end zone. While safeties can occur, they still result in scores of 2-0 or 2-1, not 1-0.
Every Score in NFL History
Listing every possible score in NFL history would be an exhaustive and impractical task, as the number of potential scores is virtually infinite due to the various combinations of touchdowns, field goals, extra points, and safeties. Additionally, NFL history is continually evolving as new games are played.
However, here are common scores and patterns that have occurred in NFL games over the years:
- 7-0: This score occurs when a team scores a touchdown and successfully kicks an extra point (PAT).
- 7-3: A team scores a touchdown and follows it with a field goal.
- 10-7: One team scores a touchdown and field goal, while the opposing team scores a touchdown.
- 14-0: Two touchdowns with successful PATs.
- 17-14: Both teams score touchdowns, but one team has an additional field goal.
- 20-17: A combination of touchdowns and field goals with successful PATs.
- 21-0: Three touchdowns with successful PATs.
- 24-21: Three touchdowns, one team with an extra field goal, and successful PATs.
- 27-24: Three touchdowns, both teams with field goals, and successful PATs.
- 30-27: A combination of touchdowns and field goals with successful PATs.
- 33-30: A combination of touchdowns and field goals with successful PATs, sometimes with a two-point conversion mixed in.
- 35-28: Four touchdowns with successful PATs.
- 38-35: A combination of touchdowns and field goals with successful PATs, and possibly a two-point conversion.
- 42-0: Six touchdowns with successful PATs.
- 45-42: A high-scoring game with a combination of touchdowns, field goals, successful PATs, and possibly two-point conversions.
- 49-48: A very high-scoring game with numerous touchdowns, field goals, successful PATs, and possibly multiple two-point conversions.
FAQS
Can a game end with a score of 0-0 in American football?
Yes, it is possible for an American football game to end in a 0-0 tie. While it’s rare, if both teams fail to score any points during the entire game, it will result in a 0-0 tie score.
Why don’t teams go for a 2-point safety conversion to make the score 2-0?
Teams do have the option to attempt a 2-point safety conversion after a safety. However, it’s a risky play because if they fail, the opposing team receives the ball in favorable field position.
Is it possible for a team to win with a score of 1-0 in American football?
No, a team cannot win with a score of 1-0 in American football. To win, a team must have more points than their opponent, and the minimum winning score is typically 2-0 or higher.
Can a game end with a score like 6-3 or 9-6 in American football?
Yes, games with scores like 6-3 or 9-6 are possible and have occurred in the NFL. These low-scoring games often involve a few field goals and minimal touchdowns.
What happens if a team intentionally concedes a safety to make the score 2-0?
While conceding a safety to manipulate the score is theoretically possible, it’s an extremely unusual and risky strategy. Teams usually aim to score points rather than concede them.
Last Words
In American football, the boundaries of possibility are defined by a precise and structured scoring system. Scores like 1-0, 2-1, 3-1, and others have remained elusive due to the sport’s fundamental rules.
This system, grounded in whole-number scoring, underscores the inherent challenge of achieving certain outcomes. American football’s rich history is marked by countless thrilling moments and unpredictable plays, yet its scoring system keeps scores like 1-0 out of reach.
As fans and teams continue to embrace the sport’s nuances, these impossibilities only serve to enhance the intrigue and strategic complexity that make American football a captivating and enduring spectacle.
