NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 27: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints drops back to pass during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 27, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Drew Brees has heard Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's call for an aggressive, always-go-for-it strategy on 2-point conversions and he wants in.
On Tuesday Roethlisberger said earnestly, "I think we should go for it every time," prompting Dan Patrick to ask Brees on Wednesday how he feels about the Golden State Warriors-esque approach (watch in video above). This is how the New Orleans Saints quarterback responded:
"Personally, I feel like if we went for two, we could make it more than 50 percent of the time. And I think fourth down, depending on where you are on the field, if you're in a manageable situation we could convert most fourth downs. So I'm all for it."
That's music to the ears of statisticians and fans in the Always Two and Never Punt camps.
It's also positive that Brees and Roethlisberger are pushing this agenda. They're both established possible/probable Hall of Famers playing for long-tenured head coaches who have more security to adopt a more aggressive approach.
In 2015, the first season after the implementation of the 33-yard extra point, the Steelers attempted more 2-point conversions (11) than any other team and converted on eight of them (72.7 percent). The Saints went just 1-for-4, but the math, based on conversion rates for 2-pointers and extra points, says that always going for two will yield more points.
The 94 2-pointers attempted in 2015 marked a nearly 60 percent increase on the 59 conversions attempted in 2014.
If Roethlisberger and Brees can get Mike Tomlin and Sean Payton to loosen the reins, we just might see the number climb higher in the upcoming season. And that would certainly make for more mathematically-sound and entertaining football.
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