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Friday 26 OctOber 2018
2 is the new 1 in the NFL;

2-point conversion tries are up

By ROB MAADDI only four times has the total Here's a look inside more
AP Pro Football Writer reached 100. numbers going into Week
Two is the new one. Titans coach Mike Vrabel 8:
NFL teams are going for went for 2 points and the UPHILL BATTLE: Bad news
2-point conversions more win instead of playing for for the 14 teams with losing
than ever this season. the tie and failed in Tennes- records. Since the current
Teams have tried it 59 see's 20-19 loss to the Char- playoff format was intro-
times through the first sev- gers in London. duced in 1990, 88 percent
en weeks, converting 35. Giants coach Pat Shurmur of teams who made the
They're on pace to break went for it down 20-12 and playoffs had a winning re-
In this Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, file photo, Baltimore Ravens kicker the record of 115 attempt- also failed in a 23-20 loss to cord through Week 7.
Justin Tucker, left, walks off the field after missing a point-af- ed in 1994, the year the NFL the Falcons. ADAM'S MARK: Vikings re-
ter attempt in the second half of an NFL football game against adopted the 2-point con- Ravens coach John Har- ceiver Adam Thielen has
the New Orleans Saints, in Baltimore. NFL teams are going for version. baugh was considering it at least 100 yards receiving
2-point conversions more than ever this season. Ravens coach There have been eight but played for overtime in each of Minnesota's first
John Harbaugh was considering it but played for overtime and
lost when Justin Tucker missed the first extra point of his career entire seasons since 1994 and lost when Justin Tucker seven games this season,
in a 24-23 loss to the Saints. in which there weren't 59 missed the first extra point tying Charley Hennigan,
Associated Press 2-pont conversion tries and of his career in a 24-23 loss who did it to start the 1961
to the Saints. season with Houston. Only
In Week 5, Eagles coach Calvin Johnson had eight
Doug Pederson went for straight 100-yard receiving
the 2-point conversion trail- games at any point during
ing by eight points and was a season. Thielen has 67
successful. Philadelphia catches for 822 yards and
ended up losing to Minne- five touchdowns.
sota but was in position to TEXAN TURNAROUND: The
win the game with a touch- Houston Texans are the
down and extra point after sixth team since 1970 to win
converting. Teams have a four straight games follow-
higher percentage of win- ing an 0-3 start.
ning down six instead of TOPPING T.O.: Cardinals
down seven. receiver Larry Fitzgerald
Shurmur followed the same needs 135 yards receiving
logic and more coaches to surpass Hall of Famer Ter-
might follow the trend in rell Owens (15,934) for sec-
8-point games because ond on the all-time list be-
the success rate for 2-point hind Jerry Rice.
conversions is nearly 60 GORE'S GRIND: Colts run-
percent and they could try ning back Frank Gore is
again and get the tie on 105 scrimmage yards away
the next touchdown. from passing Hall of Famer
Vrabel's decision was the Barry Sanders (18,190) for
toughest because kicking sixth on the all-time list. Rice
an extra point to send the is also first in that category.
game into overtime is the NAIL-BITERS: Sixty-one
safer choice. However, games have been decided
that doesn't always work by one score and at least
out as Harbaugh found one game has reached
out with a kicker who had overtime in each of the first
been perfect to that point. seven weeks.q