On the two previous plays, he had used a goal-line defense with 6 defensive linemen, 2 linebackers and 3 defensive backs.

Sensing a trend, his lawyers tried a goal-line defense, raising technical objections against hundreds of uncounted paper ballots.

This is rare in professional football except for goal-line defense, but is sometimes seen in high school or college.

Washington and Reasons are the newest members of the goal-line defense.

In the goal-line defense, with eight defenders on the line, each is responsible for one gap.

DeOssie said everyone in the goal-line defense expects to stop the other team.

Belichick is proud of his goal-line defense.

Jones is also the No. 1 middle linebacker on the Jets' goal-line defense, and in this role he has excelled.

"You can get a bomb on us getting down to the 1-yard line, but in comes our goal-line defense, who makes great plays."

The two-point conversion usually involves goal-line defenses and are thus not typical scrimmage plays, resulting in shorter average gains.