If the average game only contains 60 points or so
Then a pick 6 will shift 10% of the scoring of a game to one team. A little more if you count the extra point and field position change. A pick six from your own 25 would have no impact based on field position, but from the opponent's 10 or so would probably have another 4-5 points.
To put that 10% in perspective, a basketball game probably averages around 140 points, so it would take seven breakaway scores off of steals in a row to equate a pick six. Hockey only scores about 5 goals per game, so a shorthanded goal might have even more impact than a pick 6.
I think there is also a "effort" element to scoring in football which makes easy points particularly valuable. A scoring drive requires a series of successful plays in a row, so a score on one play is particularly valuable, and taking a possession from the other team even more so (although a pick six is so fast that the other team will likely gain an extra possession to make up for the one lost). There are only a dozen or so scoring opportunities (possessions) per team per game. Contrast that to basketball or hockey, were there are many scoring chances (30 shots/game for hockey, for instance).
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At night, the ice weasels come.
Complete thread:
- the turnover TD in football -
Jay,
2018-01-03, 15:26
- Turnovers are an exchange of expected points -
LaFortune Teller,
2018-01-03, 18:39
- If the average game only contains 60 points or so - Jeff (BGS), 2018-01-04, 09:01
- Shorthanded goal? -
MattG,
2018-01-03, 16:16
- or the “chance to steal” in Family Feud -
Jay,
2018-01-03, 16:38
- More families should defer. -
San Pedro,
2018-01-03, 16:58
- The Cameron family likes to put our offense on the field 1st -
scriptcomesfirst,
2018-01-03, 18:24
- Hubris! - San Pedro, 2018-01-04, 06:12
- The Cameron family likes to put our offense on the field 1st -
scriptcomesfirst,
2018-01-03, 18:24
- More families should defer. -
San Pedro,
2018-01-03, 16:58
- Also from hockey, the delayed penalty/pulled goalie own goal -
Captain Robb,
2018-01-03, 16:30
- the soccer own-goal for sure -
Jay,
2018-01-03, 16:39
- Except the ball has to be in your defending end... -
ndroman21,
2018-01-03, 17:57
- Usually, but not necessarily -
Savage,
2018-01-03, 18:12
- What was he trying to do there? -
ndroman21,
2018-01-03, 18:58
- Score an own goal. - Tim, 2018-01-03, 19:47
- What was he trying to do there? -
ndroman21,
2018-01-03, 18:58
- Usually, but not necessarily -
Savage,
2018-01-03, 18:12
- Except the ball has to be in your defending end... -
ndroman21,
2018-01-03, 17:57
- the soccer own-goal for sure -
Jay,
2018-01-03, 16:39
- or the “chance to steal” in Family Feud -
Jay,
2018-01-03, 16:38
- Turnovers are an exchange of expected points -
LaFortune Teller,
2018-01-03, 18:39