Unwritten football rules the Baltimore Ravens, rest of NFL face
By Peter Panacy
![Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens with referee Ron Torbert #62 (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens with referee Ron Torbert #62 (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Febonybird-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2020-2F08-2F1161846590-850x560-14d5fbc6019686b16b10118c052fd4352988a27929b52eb54833ab615cb330fc.jpg)
Never go for two points unless you have to
Perhaps the most popular of unwritten rules in football is the idonym not to attempt a two-point conversion after a touchdown until your team has to.
Well, sometimes there are situations where it’s different. Let’s say, with a minute left in regulation, the Ravens scored a go-ahead touchdown and were now up by five points. Going for two certainly isn’t a requirement, but it sure would make the opponent’s chances of retaking a lead with a go-ahead touchdown in response much slimmer.
Ever since extra-point attempts were moved back from the 2-yard line, however, two-point attempts have seen a notable increase. In 2019, the Atlanta Falcons averaged 0.6 two-point attempts per game, which led the league, while Baltimore was a shade behind and tied for third most with 0.3 per contest.
Go back a decade, however, and the highest-ranking teams rarely averaged anything more than 0.3 two-pointers per game on a year-to-year basis.
Perhaps this SB Nation article centering on why teams should go for two more often has some merit.