In what’s believed to be the first such play in NFL history, the Kansas City Chiefs lost their lead on a fourth-quarter touchdown then immediately gained it back on the very next play after Eric Berry intercepted Atlanta’s two-point conversion attempt and returned it for two points. What had been a 27-22 lead before the touchdown and became a 28-27 deficit after it turned back into a lead at 29-28, a score that would stand as the final result. It’s all because of the new NFL rule that teams can score defensive points on blocked kicks or missed two-point conversions. And what an awesome rule that’s proved to be.
With his team suddenly leading in its crucial Week 13 game, Matt Ryan took the snap for a chance to go up three points, looked in the end zone and thought he had an open receiver. But he didn’t see the Chiefs’ Berry, who jumped the crossing route, cleanly picked off the ball and ran 99 yards without anyone getting within 25 feet of him. It was the second score on the day for Berry, who became the first man to ever have a pick-six and a “pick-two” in the same NFL game.
1) ATL scores TD, takes lead
2) ATL goes for 2
3) Berry PICKS IT OFF, goes the distanceKC takes the lead. UNREAL! https://t.co/FCrLGtx4Ki
— NFL (@NFL) December 4, 2016
Should this have been avoided? Should Falcons coach Dan Quinn, not exactly known for being conservative, have sent in the kicking team to go up two points? Oh, c’mon. Just stop. You have to go for it. It’s not even a decision. It’s a reflex.
“Up by one with less than five minutes left” is almost as much of a no-brainer as “down by two with no time left.” If there were a Three Commandments for two-point conversions, those would two rules would be chiseled on the tablet along with “thou shalt not throw a fade to anyone not named Randy Moss.”
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