The Baltimore Ravens were having a tough day, but they managed to pull off a dramatic comeback against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. They drove 69 yards in nine plays to score a touchdown, narrowing the Steelers' lead to 18-16 with just 66 seconds left on the clock. The Ravens were poised to attempt a two-point conversion to tie the game and force overtime. However, the Steelers, anticipating a Tim Tebow-style pop pass, called a timeout as quarterback Lamar Jackson prepared to take the snap. This forced the Ravens to call an alternate play.
The NFL labeled the play as a 'pass failed,' but Jackson took the snap and rolled to his left, a move he is known for. The Steelers, well aware of this, quickly sealed off Jackson's options, leaving his receivers stranded. His desperate jump-ball pass fell to the ground.
'It was a QB run,' Jackson later explained. 'They just stopped it. They did a good job.' This scenario is not uncommon in the NFL this season, where defenses have been remarkably effective at thwarting two-point conversion attempts. Through 11 weeks, NFL offenses have successfully converted only 26 out of 83 two-point attempts, a mere 31.3%, compared to 70 out of 127, or 55.1%, in the entire previous season.
Over the weekend, NFL teams managed just two out of nine two-point conversions: a pass by the Cleveland Browns in their 35-14 loss to New Orleans, and a pass by Washington in their 26-18 loss to Philadelphia, which concluded with a spectacular tip-toe catch by tight end Zach Ertz. The sudden decline in two-point conversion success rates remains unexplained, though it's clear that defenses are more prepared than ever.
Before the 2015 season, the NFL moved the line of scrimmage for kicked extra points to the 15-yard line, a change that initially seemed to encourage more two-point conversion attempts. However, this season has seen a stark difference, with 16 teams, half the league, failing to convert any two-point attempts. The New York Giants are 0-for-6, and the Tennessee Titans haven't even attempted one. Only Cleveland and Jacksonville, despite their poor performances otherwise, have managed more than two successful tries.
The two-point conversion, introduced in 1994, was initially seen as a straightforward task. However, this season's struggles suggest that teams are becoming more cautious with their attempts. Despite the current defensive edge, the two-point conversion keeps games competitive, as seen in the Steelers-Ravens game. Whether this trend continues or the NFL changes the rules again remains to be seen.
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