If you’re watching NFL football and hear the announcer yell, “It’s a safety!” you might wonder what just happened. A safety is one of the rarest and most exciting plays in the game, worth two points for the defensive team. While it doesn’t happen often, it can be a game-changing moment. Let’s break down what a safety is, how it happens, and why it matters.
What is a Safety?
In NFL football, a safety occurs when the offensive team is forced into its own end zone and is tackled, commits a penalty, or loses the ball out of bounds. When this happens, the defensive team earns two points, and the offensive team must kick the ball back to the defence on the ensuing play.
How Does a Safety Happen?
There are a few ways a safety can occur in a game:
Tackling the Ball Carrier in the End Zone:
The most common way a safety happens is when a defensive player tackles the ball carrier (usually the quarterback or running back) in their own end zone. This often results from strong defensive pressure, like a sack.
Offensive Penalty in the End Zone:
If the offence commits certain penalties in their own end zone, such as holding or intentional grounding, it results in a safety.
Fumbled Ball Out of the End Zone:
If the offensive team fumbles the ball and it goes out of bounds in their own end zone, the opposing team is awarded a safety.
Blocked Kick or Snap Mishap:
A blocked punt, muffed snap, or errant throw that ends up in the offensive team’s end zone can lead to a safety.
Why is a Safety Important?
While worth only two points, a safety can have a significant impact on a game. Here’s why it’s a big deal:
Momentum Shift: A safety not only adds points for the defensive team but also forces the offence to give up possession of the ball.
Field Position Advantage: After a safety, the offensive team must perform a free kick (a punt or dropkick), giving the defence a great chance to start their next drive with good field position.
Psychological Impact: Safeties can rattle the offence, especially if the defence is dominating the line of scrimmage.
Betting on a Safety in the Super Bowl
Safeties are rare but not unheard of in the NFL, especially in the Super Bowl. In fact, safeties have occurred in nine of the 57 Super Bowls, making them surprisingly more frequent in championship games (15.7%) compared to the regular season (6.3%). This historical context adds intrigue to betting on whether a safety will happen during Super Bowl 59.
Notable Super Bowl Safeties
Super Bowl IX (1975): The first safety in Super Bowl history happened when Dwight White of the Pittsburgh Steelers tackled Fran Tarkenton in the end zone. It was a pivotal moment in the Steelers’ 16-6 win over the Vikings.
Super Bowl XLVIII (2014): The most famous safety might be the opening play of this game, when the ball was snapped over Peyton Manning’s head and into the end zone, giving the Seahawks an early lead in their eventual 43-8 rout of the Broncos.
Why Bet on a Safety?
Given that safeties happen more often in Super Bowls than regular-season games, they’re an intriguing prop bet with high potential payouts. Odds for a safety are usually long, reflecting its rarity, but bettors who correctly wager on this outcome can cash in big. The Super Bowl tends to feature intense defensive pressure and high-stakes nerves, both of which increase the chances of a safety.
