The Full Impact of a Missed Field Goal
Terry L. Mitchell
September 16, 2009
When a football team misses a field goal early in a game, the consequences of such a miscue will often be felt later in that game. Sports announcers will generally remind viewers about it in the fourth quarter when that team is behind by three points or fewer. However, one missed field could also have devastating consequences for a team that is trailing by as many as six points.
A team that is on the short end of the score by four to six points in the waning minutes or seconds of a game needs a touchdown. A field goal obviously does them no good. Of course, a touchdown in that situation is much more difficult to get because it requires advancing the ball an additional 30-45 yards. Now, let's assume that this team had made a field goal that they had missed earlier. In that case, they would only need a field goal, not a touchdown, to tie or win the game. Their chances for late-game success would be greatly increased, often making the difference between winning and losing.
A team that is on the short end of the score by four to six points in the waning minutes or seconds of a game needs a touchdown. A field goal obviously does them no good. Of course, a touchdown in that situation is much more difficult to get because it requires advancing the ball an additional 30-45 yards. Now, let's assume that this team had made a field goal that they had missed earlier. In that case, they would only need a field goal, not a touchdown, to tie or win the game. Their chances for late-game success would be greatly increased, often making the difference between winning and losing.