What is the difference between a field goal and an extra point?
Both plays involve a kicker, both send the ball through the same set of yellow uprights, and both score points. But a field goal and an extra point are very different things, and they happen in completely different situations. Here is a clear breakdown of what each one is and how they fit into the game.
What is a field goal?
A field goal is worth three points and can be attempted at any point during a drive, from anywhere on the field. In practice, teams almost always go for a field goal on fourth down when they are close enough for their kicker to have a realistic chance, but not close enough to feel confident about getting a touchdown.
To score a field goal, the kicker must send the ball through the uprights and over the crossbar. A holder places the ball on the ground for the kicker to strike. The attempt can be blocked by the defense, and if the kick misses or is blocked, the opposing team takes over from the spot of the kick. This makes the decision to attempt a long field goal a genuine risk, especially in poor weather conditions or from beyond fifty yards.
What is an extra point?
An extra point is worth one point and is only available immediately after a touchdown. The kicking team lines up from the fifteen-yard line and attempts the same type of kick as a field goal, through the uprights and over the crossbar. Because the distance is short and the play is predictable, professional kickers make the extra point at an extremely high rate. It is rarely exciting, but it is an almost automatic addition to the six points already scored.
The extra point is sometimes called the PAT, which stands for point after touchdown. After the kick, possession returns to the kicking team for the next kickoff and the game continues.
The third option: the two-point conversion
After a touchdown, the scoring team does not have to kick. They can instead run one more offensive play from the two-yard line and try to get the ball into the end zone again. If they succeed, they earn two points instead of one. This is called the two-point conversion, and it is a genuine tactical decision that comes up most often in close games where the score situation makes two points more valuable than one.
The two-point conversion succeeds roughly half the time at the professional level, which is why most teams stick with the reliable extra point kick in normal situations.
The key differences at a glance
A field goal is worth three points, can happen at any point in a drive, and is attempted from the line of scrimmage wherever the offense currently is. An extra point is worth one point, only happens after a touchdown, and is always kicked from the same short distance. The two-point conversion is also only available after a touchdown and is worth two points, but it replaces the kick entirely with a live offensive play.
The biggest practical difference is when they happen. A field goal is a decision the offense makes mid-drive when a touchdown seems out of reach. An extra point or two-point attempt only exists because a touchdown was already scored. One is a consolation, the other is a reward.
Watch every kick live with the AFLE
The American Football League Europe launches in 2026 and plays by NFL rules. Follow the AFLE and see how kickers, coaches, and special teams units handle these decisions across a full professional season.
