Week 17 – A Picture of Field Goals and Punts Is Worth 1,000 Words

Last week we looked at post-game/self-scout analytics with examples from the Georgia 6A High School Football Championship game (Week 16).

This week, we zoom out and look at a broader trend:
The total number of field goal and punt attempts over the past five NFL seasons.

📉 What the Data Shows:

NFL teams are going for it more often — and the trend is accelerating.

Here are the combined field goal + punt attempt totals by year:

  • 2021: 2,631

  • 2022: 2,736

  • 2023: 2,780 (peak)

  • 2024: 2,648

  • 2025: 2,495 → That’s 285 fewer attempts than just two seasons ago — over the same number of games. 📝 Note: While these changes may look small as a % of total plays (~6%), they’re significant. In a league with 40,000+ plays per season, even a 1% shift means 400+ play calls — roughly one less kick attempt per team, per week. That adds up to dozens of extra 4th down decisions that didn’t exist just a few years ago.

💡 What It Means:

This isn’t just an NFL trend — it’s part of a larger shift in how the game is played.

Coaches are recognizing the value of possession over punting and touchdowns over field goals, and analytics are helping guide more aggressive 4th down decision-making.

Forward-thinking teams can gain an edge by:

  • Preparing players to handle high-leverage moments

  • Calling games with a modern understanding of risk/reward

  • Making the most of every opportunity on offense and defense 

🎯 The Point:

The game is evolving — the smart play is to adapt, not react.

Punts and field goals are trending down. Possession and touchdowns are trending up.

If your strategy doesn’t reflect this, you’re missing opportunities.

🏈 Coaches:

Want to see how your 4th down decisions stack up?

Let’s talk. I’ll break down a few from your season — no pressure, just clarity.

High School, NCAA and NFL.

Please reach out with questions.  aj@varsity-ai.com