Game Ending Safeties

[LeonardRachiele]

Deep in their own territory, with a lead late in the game,  a team often takes a deliberate  safety.  It is much better to yield two points rather than risk a blocked punt or muffed snap.    The safety is the only instance in football where the team that scores gets the ball again.  The kickoff or punt is from the 20 yard line.  It is a free kick since the receiving team cannot block it.   They can advance the ball  as in a punt or kickoff.    This, of course, happened in the Super Bowl with the Ravens and the 49ers.  With seconds left, the Baltimore punter took the snap, ran around, then stepped over the End Line.  Baltimore punted from their 20, leaving San Francisco time for only one play. There are variations to the fake punt as shown below.

1973-Miami Dolphins at the Pittsburgh Steelers.   Miami had a fourth and long at their own six yard line, leading the Steelers 30 to 24.   Quarterback Bob Greise lined up over center and the telecasters actually felt this was going to be a pass.   Greise took the snap and ran backward over the End Line.  Larry Seiple got off a great punt and preserved the victory.   Dolphins 30 Steelers 26.

1976-Playoffs-Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys.   Rams had the ball at their eight yard line leading 14 to 10 with time for one more play. Punter Rusty Jackson took the snap and with the clock at zero went beyond the End Line.  Rams 14 Cowboys 12.

1978-Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins.  This game was exciting and tense even though no team got a touchdown.  Joe Theisman, from the Redskins 20, ran back to the End Zone.   He held the ball in triumph which was dangerous; but he did go over the End Line with no time left.

2009-New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles.  The Saints had the ball at their six gashing the Eagles 48 to 20.  Saints' quarterback Drew Brees ran backward and threw the ball into the stands.  Saints 48 Eagles 22

[Todd Pence]

1978 AFC Wild Card game. Houston leading 17-7 takes an intentional safety at the end of the game.

[ChrisBabcock]

Last play of the game Texans at Bills 2003, Houston has a 12-8 lead last play of the game 4th down. Andre Johnson takes the snap in punt formation, does an about face, and sprints about 30 yards into the endzone for an intentional safety.

[Cali_Eagle]

The safety is WAY under-valued on the points scale. It is the most damaging that can occur to an offense, and it ought to be at least EIGHT (8) points. Why the offense be able to benefit in a close game by intentionally taking a safety, intentionally giving 2 points to the opposing team? A Safety ought to really sting and damage a team that gives one up.
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I also feel the field goal has gotten so much easier %-wise AND distance-wise from the Ohio League to today, that it should be only 2 points.

[Citizen]

In 1977, Green Bay clinched a 10-9 win over Detroit when punter David Beverly took a deliberate safety. The following week, the Lions upset Baltimore with a blocked punt run in for a touchdown by Leonard Thompson on the game’s last play when the Colts fail to emulate the Packers' strategy.

[Gary Najman]

In 1989 the Vikings beat the Rams in overtime 23-21 thanks to blocked punt by LB Mike Merriweather that went out of the endzone. It was the first time a game ended with a safety in OT.

[Brian wolf]

The greatest safeties were ...

Carl Eller on Roman Gabriel ... Vikings out toughed em' during a critical playoff game ...

George Andrie against Detroit ... Huge play in playoffs, to ice the game for DoomsDay ...

[lehotskys80]

New Orleans at Dallas, Sept 25, 1983.. with 2 minutes left in the game, Anthony Dickerson sacks Ken Stabler for a safety in a 21-20 win.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... 250dal.htm

[sheajets]

Jets tried that in a 1993 game vs Cinci - up 17-10 deep in their own territory I believe Louie Aguiar (P) chucked the ball out of the endzone as time expired. Officials thought otherwise and put one second back on the clock. Jets free kicked and won 17-12

[Gary Najman]

New Orleans at Dallas, Sept 25, 1983.. with 2 minutes left in the game, Anthony Dickerson sacks Ken Stabler for a safety in a 21-20 win.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... 250dal.htm

That was the first (and I believe only) time in NFL history where a team that was losing by 1 point with less than two minutes in the game won by 1 point.