Is it possible for an NFL team to win 6-1? If so, how?
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Since it's easy to google Wikipedia and NFL rules, I'll cut to the chase. Then answer is YES.
Here's how. Last year, the NFL has allowed a team who was defending a conversion attempt from a team that has just scored a touchdown, the ability to return a blocked kick, interception, or fumble for 2 points. This rule had actually been in force in the NCAA for many years, but was just instituted in the NFL this past season.
In conjunction with the conversion attempt, if the defensive team obtains possession of the ball in the field of play (between the goal lines), then in attempting to run the ball back, they either retreat into their own end zone are are tackled, or they fumble the ball backwards out of th endzone. This results in a Conversion Attempt Safety, which is worth one point to the kicking team, so they have scored 7 points on the TD and conversion play (although technically they didn't "convert" in a conventional manner).
However, the ability to score a conversion safety also applies to the defense, though an almost-Rube Goldberg-like chain of events would have to follow. The most likely way for the defense to score a Conversion Attempt Safety would be:
1. Attempt at PAT is blocked, intercepted, or fumbled, and the defense picks up the ball and tries to return for a Defensive conversion.
2. Defensive returner comes close to the end zone but fumbles the ball away.
3. Player from the kicking team recovers the ball, establishes control within the field of play (between the goal lines).
4. Player then runs back into his end zone and is tackled, fumbles backwards where he or his teammate recovers the ball in the endzone but doesn't get out of the end zone, or fumbles ball backwards out of the end zone.
Another unlikely way would be for a snap to go over the head of the holder, kicker, or quarterback, and somehow end up being fumbled over and over until step 4 above.
In this case, the defensive team would score a Defensive Conversion Safety, which is worth one point. This is the only way to score a single point that is not part of the same team's touchdown, and in fact the only way that a team can end a game with one point on the scoreboard. This will always result in a loss, as it is impossible to score a single point without an opposing touchdown.
The defensive conversion safety is, without question, the rarest method of scoring in any sport, but it is possible.
...
Since it's easy to google Wikipedia and NFL rules, I'll cut to the chase. Then answer is YES.
Here's how. Last year, the NFL has allowed a team who was defending a conversion attempt from a team that has just scored a touchdown, the ability to return a blocked kick, interception, or fumble for 2 points. This rule had actually been in force in the NCAA for many years, but was just instituted in the NFL this past season.
In conjunction with the conversion attempt, if the defensive team obtains possession of the ball in the field of play (between the goal lines), then in attempting to run the ball back, they either retreat into their own end zone are are tackled, or they fumble the ball backwards out of th endzone. This results in a Conversion Attempt Safety, which is worth one point to the kicking team, so they have scored 7 points on the TD and conversion play (although technically they didn't "convert" in a conventional manner).
However, the ability to score a conversion safety also applies to the defense, though an almost-Rube Goldberg-like chain of events would have to follow. The most likely way for the defense to score a Conversion Attempt Safety would be:
1. Attempt at PAT is blocked, intercepted, or fumbled, and the defense picks up the ball and tries to return for a Defensive conversion.
2. Defensive returner comes close to the end zone but fumbles the ball away.
3. Player from the kicking team recovers the ball, establishes control within the field of play (between the goal lines).
4. Player then runs back into his end zone and is tackled, fumbles backwards where he or his teammate recovers the ball in the endzone but doesn't get out of the end zone, or fumbles ball backwards out of the end zone.
Another unlikely way would be for a snap to go over the head of the holder, kicker, or quarterback, and somehow end up being fumbled over and over until step 4 above.
In this case, the defensive team would score a Defensive Conversion Safety, which is worth one point. This is the only way to score a single point that is not part of the same team's touchdown, and in fact the only way that a team can end a game with one point on the scoreboard. This will always result in a loss, as it is impossible to score a single point without an opposing touchdown.
The defensive conversion safety is, without question, the rarest method of scoring in any sport, but it is possible.
