New England Patriots: Attempt More Two Point Coversions

Through three weeks, the New England Patriots appear primed to be serious contenders for the Lombardi Trophy again this season. Tom Brady is leading an explosive offensive attack, while a new and improved defensive front seven is helping the defense look great.

The Patriots are rolling into their bye week, playing nearly perfect football. However, I can not help but notice that the team may be leaving points on the field after a league rule change has opened up the door for more scoring.

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As you undoubtedly know, the NFL changed the extra point rule this off season. Teams are now lining up for an extra point from the 15-yard line, or essentially kicking a 33-yard field goal. NFL kickers can hit 33-yard field goals with ease, but while it has been limited, there has been an effect. Obviously, kickers are missing more extra points now, than ever before.

It has yet to be an issue for Patriots’ kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who is 14-for-14 on extra points for the year. He is one of the best kickers in the league, and I doubt it ever becomes much of an issue him. That being said, he is not perfect, and will undoubtedly miss a couple throughout the year.

Sep 27, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) kicks a field goal out of the hold of punter Ryan Allen (6) in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. New England defeated Jacksonville 51-17. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

With the NFL rule still allowing a two point conversion to take place from the two-yard line, should the Patriots start going for two more often? It’s hard to say. League-wide, kickers are still hitting extra points at a 94% clip. That is a small sample size, and I do expect it to drop a bit, but kickers are clearly not having too many issues with the move back.

As great as Gostkowski is, I think the Patriots’ offense would put up more points than him in point after attempts over the course of a season. Simply put, a two point conversion is worth double the points of a point-after try. If Gostkowski hits all of his extra points this year, all the Patriots’ offense has to do is score on half of their two point attempts to match his production.

Do you have confidence in the Patriots offense’s ability to gain two yards on a play more often than not? I know I sure do, and I think the Patriots are leaving points on the field by not attempting two point conversions a majority of the time.

If anything is true through the early going of this Patriots’ season, it is that the offense is elite. Brady looks incredible, and there is no reason to believe that will change anytime soon. He is going to lead this offense to a lot of points during the season, and defenses are going to have a lot of trouble stopping them. Why not make them try to stop you for one more play after a touchdown drive?

Think of the options the Patriots have to pick up two yards. Rob Gronkowski is the biggest match-up nightmare in the NFL. His size, speed, strength and athleticism combination is impossible to consistently defend on the goal line. Going to take away Gronk? Fine, Brady can just find the speedy Edelman who is arguably the best slot receiver in the NFL, and his specialty is in the short passing game.

LeGarrette Blount is a great goal line back, while Dion Lewis, Scott Chandler and Danny Amendola all also create issues for defenses in short spaces as well. All of this is led by one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game.

Yea, I think they would score a two point conversion enough of the time to make it worth it, and the upside here is large and relatively easy to obtain.

Next: AFC Outlook: Any Major Competition for the Patriots?

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