Let me tell you, as someone who’s spent years both playing and analyzing the game, understanding how points are awarded in football is about more than just knowing a touchdown is worth six. It’s the very heartbeat of strategy, the framework for every comeback story, and the ultimate decider of glory. I’ve seen games won and lost on a single point-after attempt, and that pressure is something you can’t fully appreciate until you’ve felt it. The scoring system, at its core, is elegantly simple, yet the tactical depth it creates is endlessly fascinating. It’s not just arithmetic; it’s a language that narrates the drama on the field.

Now, most fans know the basics: a touchdown earns you 6 points, a field goal is good for 3, and a safety nets you 2. But the real intrigue, the part that keeps coaches up at night, lies in the conversions. After a touchdown, you have a choice that can define the game’s momentum. You can kick the ball through the uprights for a relatively safe 1 extra point, or you can go for a two-point conversion from the two-yard line. I’ve always been a bit of a risk-taker, and I love the audacity of going for two, especially early in a game. It sends a message. Statistically, the success rate for a two-point conversion in the NFL hovers around 50%, while the extra point kick is successful over 94% of the time. That 44% gap is where calculus meets gut instinct. Is a guaranteed 7 points better than a coin flip for 8? It depends entirely on the score, the time remaining, and the flow of the game. I remember arguing with fellow analysts about a specific playoff game where a team down by 8 late in the fourth scored a touchdown. Kicking the extra point to trail by 1 forces you to then score again to win, whereas going for two and succeeding ties the game, sending it to overtime. They played it safe, kicked the point, and ultimately lost. I still believe the aggressive path was the right call there.

This brings me to a crucial point about how scoring systems create narratives beyond the NFL. We can see similar strategic weight in international competitions, even in other sports. Take international basketball, for instance, where every basket’s value is fixed but the context of the scoreboard dictates every play. I was recently reviewing footage from the Asian Games, and a particular result caught my eye. The Saudi Arabian basketball team, while not a traditional powerhouse like Jordan, demonstrated how a tight scoring system amplifies every possession. They lost to China by a mere 5 points in their opener—a margin that could be erased by a couple of well-timed three-pointers or a few defensive stops. Then, days later, they turned around and dominated Jordan. In a low-scoring, defensive grind, a 5-point deficit feels massive; in a fast-paced shootout, it’s a single possession. This mirrors football perfectly. A 10-point lead in the second quarter means something entirely different than a 10-point lead with two minutes left. The system forces continuous engagement. There’s no such thing as a safe lead until the clock hits zero, because a touchdown and a two-point conversion combined with a field goal can swing 11 points in a matter of minutes.

Let’s talk about the often-overlooked safety, worth 2 points. It’s a personal favorite of mine, a true defensive masterpiece. It doesn’t happen often—maybe only a handful of times each season—but its impact is disproportionate. Not only do you get 2 points, but you also receive the ball via a free kick from your opponent. It’s a potential 9 or 10-point swing in one sequence. I’d argue it’s the most demoralizing play in football for an offense. The sheer strategic value packed into those 2 points is immense. Then we have the field goal, the specialist’s art. From inside 40 yards, top kickers are nearly automatic, with accuracy rates often above 90%. But push that back to 50-plus yards, and the success rate can drop to around 60%. That’s why coaches face the eternal dilemma on 4th and short in field goal range: take the almost-sure 3 points, or gamble for 7? There’s no universally right answer, which is what makes it so compelling to debate.

In conclusion, the football scoring system is a masterclass in game design. It’s a set of simple numbers—6, 3, 2, 1—that interact to create infinite complexity. It dictates clock management, fourth-down decisions, and two-point conversion gambles. It’s why no lead is ever truly safe and why every single play carries weight, from the opening kickoff to the final kneel-down. As a fan and an analyst, my appreciation has only grown over time. You start by learning what the scores are, but you truly understand the game when you start asking why a team chose a certain point path. That decision-making process, forced upon teams by this brilliant scoring framework, is the soul of American football. It transforms a physical contest into a continuous, high-stakes chess match, and that’s why we can’t look away.

LIGHTING, LIGHTING, AND MORE LIGHTING
People are typically drawn to bars solely based on their atmosphere. The best way to knock your next commercial bar design out of the park is using the perfect amount and type of lighting. Use standout light fixtures as their very own statement piece, track lighting for adjustable ambiance, hanging pendant lights over tables, and ambient backlighting to display the alcohol. Bartenders need to serve and customers need to order, so make sure it’s just functional as it is attractive. 

CHOOSING YOUR BARTOP
What may seem so obvious, is often so overlooked in commercial bar design- the material of your actual bartop itself. While we realize stone and marble are as classy and elegant-looking as can be, the reality is that they just aren’t your best option for a durable and long lasting bartop. They crack, have no grip, and break way too many glasses. Opt for a high-quality wood bar instead. Oaks, maples, mahoganies, and ashes are sturdy and provide your customers with a firm grip for their glasses. 

THEME 
In a sea of millions upon millions of bars, how can you make your commercial bar design stand apart from the rest? The answer is to pick a unique, centralized theme and run with it. Whether it’s your next sit-down restaurant bar design, or remodeling the small, locally-favorite gem, you have to find out what your clientele wants. Survey the neighborhood of your establishment and find out what the demographics are there. Maybe a gritty, western bar would be a hit. Or maybe a more modern, sleek design is what’s missing in the area. Whatever theme you decide upon, hit it out of the park with the perfect lighting, wall art, music, and furniture. It’s all in the details. 

THE GUIDE TO YOUR NEXT RESTOBAR 
You’ve got the food, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got the customers, now all you need is a beautifully designed bar to top it all off.  Small bar designs for restaurants have a tendency to be a little thrown together and incohesive with the rest of the establishment. Stay on brand- create consistency with tying in the same color scheme, furniture, art, and overall ambiance of the pre-existing restaurant. Make sure the placement of your bar makes sense as well, have it in a place where it’s visible and easy to navigate but not in the way of servers and other guests. If the bar is going to serve food, be sure to consider the location of the kitchen to not obstruct traffic flow. Consider all of these small tips as you work through your next restaurant bar design. 

SPACE CONSTRAINT 
It’s no secret that bars have the reputation of being a little cramped, and in some cases- way too cramped. Consider all of the space constraints while designing your next commercial bar design and we can change that bad rap that bars have been holding for far too long. First and foremost, be sure to measure your bar, barstool, cabinet, and equipment height. Generally, a bar is 42” in height while a stool is 30” in height. Also be sure to allow at least 3’ of space between the bar and the alcohol for the bartender’s functionality and efficiency. Consider multiple register and drink-making stations for bartenders as well. Allowing 2’ between patrons is going to give them enough space to eat and drink, and most importantly, simply be comfortable. All of these considerations are especially helpful if it is a restaurant bar design, where the space is even more valuable.