Late in Monday night’s game between the Patriots and the Bills, NFL history was almost made, as the first one-point safety ever was almost scored.
A lot of fans probably don’t even realize that there is such a thing as a one-point safety, because there’s never been on in NFL history. But it does exist, and if it ever does happen in the NFL it will probably happen like this: A team scores a touchdown and is going for two. The offense throws an interception into the end zone, the defensive player takes it out of the end zone, then he gets hit just after he runs out of the end zone, fumbles back into the end zone, and one of his teammates recovers. That would be a safety, but because it comes on a two-point conversion attempt instead of a regular play from scrimmage, it would be a one-point safety.
That nearly happened after a Patriots fourth-quarter touchdown on Monday night: Tom Brady passed into the end zone on the two-point conversion attempt, Bills linebacker Julian Stanford intercepted, then started to run the ball out, was hit and fumbled, and the Bills recovered in the end zone. If Stanford had crossed the goal line with the ball before fumbling back into the end zone, the Bills’ recovery in the end zone would have given the Patriots one point. However, Stanford never brought the ball out of the end zone before fumbling, so that made the play like a touchback, not a safety.
If the Patriots had recovered the fumble in the end zone, it would have been a successful two-point conversion. It looked like the Patriots actually might have jumped on it, but the officials ruled it recovered by the Bills, and ESPN did not show any replay angles that were conclusive.
ESPN’s broadcast didn’t pay much attention to the play, perhaps because the folks at ESPN weren’t aware of the dynamics at play. Former referee Jeff Triplette works on ESPN’s Monday night broadcasts but rarely chimes in and didn’t say anything about the play last night.
One-point safeties have happened in college football, including in a couple of high-profile games, the 2004 Texas-Texas A&M game and the 2013 Fiesta Bowl. Eventually, one will happen in the NFL. And now you’ll know what’s happening.
FAQs
One-point safeties have also occurred in an NAIA game and two junior college games. No conversion safeties have been scored in the NFL since 1940, although it is now slightly more likely after the rule change in 2015 which allowed the defense to take possession and score on a conversion attempt.
What is the rarest play in football? ›
Usage. The fair catch kick rule is very rarely invoked, and is one of the rarest plays in football. The rule has been regarded as "obscure", "bizarre", and "quirky".
Has there ever been more than one safety in a NFL game? ›
The NFL team record for safeties in a game is three, which all occurred when the Los Angeles Rams recorded three against the New York Giants on September 30, 1984.
Who is the only NFL player to score two safeties in one game? ›
He had 40 tackles (17 solo) and 4½ sacks. In 1973, Dryer started all 14 games on the right side and became the only NFL player ever to have two safeties in the same game by tackling opposing passers in the end zone twice in the fourth quarter.
When has a 1 point safety happened? ›
The one point safety is when. one team scores a touchdown, but on the following conversion, the opposing team gets the ball off a turnover, runs back into the end zone, and is tackled while still in the end zone. First time this happened was in 2004. in a game between Texas and Texas A&M.
Has there ever been 2 safeties in one game? ›
Fred Dryer scored 2 safeties versus the Packers on October 21, 1973.
What score can you never get in football? ›
It is important to note that specific score outcomes are impossible due to the scoring rules in place. Specifically, results such as 1-1, 1-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, and 7-1 are not viable. This is because a score of 5-1 can only be obtained through a field goal and a conventional safety, which is highly unlikely.
What is the most famous play in NFL history? ›
Perhaps the most famous play in NFL history, Franco Harris' catch is still debated to this day – 50 years after the event. Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a pass to John Fuqua, which was deflected backwards where Harris snatched the ball off the ground.
What NFL scores are not possible? ›
Scores that are not possible:
- 1 point: There is no direct way to score 1 point in American Football.
- 4 points: There is no combination of scoring plays that would result in 4 points.
- 5 points: There is no combination of scoring plays that would result in 5 points.
In the 57 Super Bowls, there have been 9 safeties. Not a ton, but more than what you'll get in a typical sample of 57 games.
The Top 10 NFL Safeties of All Time
- Ronnie Lott. Ronnie Lott, known for his hard-hitting style and exceptional coverage skills, is widely regarded as one of the greatest safeties in NFL history. ...
- Ed Reed. ...
- Troy Polamalu. ...
- Kenny Easley. ...
- Paul Krause. ...
- Brian Dawkins. ...
- Ken Houston. ...
- Emlen Tunnell.
Bednarik is ranked one of the hardest hitting tacklers in NFL history, and was one of the league's last two-way players, so he was also known as "60 Minute Man".
Was Fred Dryer ever on Cheers? ›
"Cheers" 'I' on Sports (TV Episode 1987) - Fred Dryer as Dave Richards - IMDb.
Has there ever been a 1-0 NFL game? ›
It is important to note that specific score outcomes are impossible due to the scoring rules in place. Specifically, results such as 1-1, 1-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, and 7-1 are not viable. This is because a score of 5-1 can only be obtained through a field goal and a conventional safety, which is highly unlikely.
Who was the best safety in NFL history? ›
Let's delve into the top 10 NFL safeties of all time, showcasing their remarkable careers and contributions to the game.
- Ronnie Lott. ...
- Ed Reed. ...
- Troy Polamalu. ...
- Kenny Easley. ...
- Paul Krause. ...
- Brian Dawkins. ...
- Ken Houston. ...
- Emlen Tunnell.
Here are some examples of NFL games that ended with a 2-0 score: In 1938, the Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers with a score of 2-0 [1]. In 1938, the Pittsburgh Pirates (now the Pittsburgh Steelers) defeated the Philadelphia Eagles with a score of 2-0 [1].
