You're staring at the grid. The black and white squares are mocking you. It's a three-letter or four-letter word, and the clue is "move after a touchdown NYT." If you aren't a sports fanatic, your brain probably goes straight to a victory dance or maybe a spike. But the New York Times Crossword—especially under the editorship of Will Shortz and now Joel Fagliano—likes to play with your head. It’s rarely about the physical movement of the player.
Crosswords are games of synonyms and multi-layered meanings.
When you see "move after a touchdown" in an NYT puzzle, the answer is almost always EXTRA POINT, PAT (Point After Touchdown), or more commonly in a cryptic or short-form sense, KICK. If the grid asks for a three-letter word, you’re looking at PAT. If it’s four, it’s KICK. But wait. Sometimes the NYT gets cheeky. If the theme is space or aviation, a "touchdown" isn't a 6-point score in the NFL; it’s a lunar module hitting the dusty surface of the moon. In that case, the "move" might be DISEMBARK or EXIT.
Context is everything.
Why the Word PAT is a Crossword Staple
Let’s talk about the PAT. It stands for Point After Touchdown. In the world of the NFL, this is the most routine play in the game, though the league tried to spice things up a few years ago by moving the line of scrimmage back to the 15-yard line. For a crossword constructor, PAT is a godsend. It has two high-frequency consonants and a vowel that fits almost anywhere.
You’ve probably seen it clued as "Nickname for a North" or "Standard stroke," but "move after a touchdown NYT" is the classic misdirection. It makes you think of a celebration. It makes you think of the "Griddy" or a Lambeau Leap. But the NYT puzzle is a bit more literal and a bit more technical than that. The "move" is the strategic play.
The Physics of the Kick and Other Variations
If the answer is KICK, you’re dealing with the literal action of the ball. In the 2026 NFL season, we've seen kickers becoming more specialized than ever. The precision required for a "move after a touchdown" is insane. But back to the puzzle—if KICK doesn't fit, check your crosses.
Is the clue actually asking for TWO? As in a "two-point conversion"?
Sometimes the NYT uses "Move after a touchdown?" with a question mark. That little squiggle at the end is a warning. It means the editor is punning. If there’s a question mark, the "touchdown" might refer to a plane. When a plane lands—a touchdown—the next move is to TAXI.
Think about that for a second. TAXI. It’s a four-letter word. It fits perfectly in many weekday puzzles. If you’re stuck on football, you’ll never find it. You'll be trying to cram "Spike" or "Dance" into a space where they clearly don't belong.
Understanding the NYT Crossword Philosophy
The New York Times crossword isn't just a test of what you know. It’s a test of how you think. Monday puzzles are straightforward. "Move after a touchdown" on a Monday is almost certainly PAT. By the time you get to Saturday, the clue might be exactly the same, but the answer could be something completely abstract like ELATION.
Why? Because on Saturdays, the "move" is an emotional move. You are moved to feel something after your team scores.
Honestly, it’s kind of brilliant. The constructors—people like Robyn Weintraub or Patrick Berry—know exactly how your brain works. They know you’ll see "touchdown" and immediately visualize grass and cheerleaders. They want to lead you down that path so that when you finally realize the answer is EXIT (because the "touchdown" was an elevator reaching the ground floor), you have that "Aha!" moment. That’s the dopamine hit that keeps people coming back to the NYT Games app every morning.
Common Answers for Touchdown-Related Clues
If you're stuck right now, look at your letter count.
- Three Letters: PAT, SIX (referring to the points, though less common for "move"), SET (as in setting the ball).
- Four Letters: KICK, TAXI, STEP, PUNT (rare, but happens in specific game contexts).
- Five Letters: DANCE, SPIKE, EXTRA.
There’s also the possibility of ETP, which is a rarer abbreviation for Extra Point, but the NYT usually tries to avoid "green paint" (phrases that aren't common in real life) or ugly abbreviations unless the crosses are very fair.
Beyond the Grid: The Evolution of the NFL Move
It’s worth noting how the game of football itself changes these clues. Twenty years ago, a "move after a touchdown" was a 99% certainty. You kicked the ball. Today, analytics-driven coaches go for two way more often. This shift in the real world eventually trickles down to the crossword constructors. They read the same sports pages we do.
If a coach like Dan Campbell is in the news for his aggressive fourth-down and post-touchdown decisions, don't be surprised to see a clue that reflects that. Crosswords are a living document of our culture. They aren't static.
Tips for Solving Tough Clues
When you're stuck on a sports clue in the NYT, the best thing you can do is ignore the sports aspect. Read the clue out loud. Change the emphasis.
"Move after a touchdown."
"Move after a touchdown."
If it’s a "move" in the sense of a career, could it be RETIRE? If someone "touches down" at the end of a long career? Probably not, but that’s the kind of lateral thinking required for the late-week puzzles.
Always look at the surrounding words. If you have a 'P' from a cross-word, PAT is your best bet. If you have a 'K', it's KICK. If you have an 'X', you better start thinking about airplanes and TAXI-ing to the gate.
The Role of Theme in Naming the Move
Every Sunday NYT puzzle has a theme. If the theme is "Highs and Lows," and you see "move after a touchdown," the answer is probably related to the "Low" part of the theme. Maybe the answer is DEBARK.
If the theme is "Sunday Funday" and it's all about football, then you're back to the gridiron. Always check the title of the puzzle if you’re playing on a Sunday. It’s the biggest hint you’ll get.
The move after a touchdown is a transitional moment. In the game, it's a bridge between the score and the kickoff. In the crossword, it's a bridge between the Northwest corner and the Southeast. Don't let it be the reason you lose your streak.
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Strategic Steps for Crossword Success
- Check the day of the week. Early week means literal (football); late week means puns (planes, elevators, emotions).
- Count your squares. PAT and KICK are the "bread and butter" of three-and-four-letter slots.
- Look for the question mark. If it's there, stop thinking about the NFL immediately.
- Fill in the crosses. Never obsess over one clue. If "move after a touchdown" isn't coming to you, solve the words crossing it. The letters P-A-T are very easy to verify with down clues.
- Use a pencil (metaphorically). If you're using the app, don't be afraid to guess KICK and see if the letters turn red or if the crosses work.
The NYT crossword is a conversation between the constructor and the solver. They provide the riddle; you provide the perspective. "Move after a touchdown NYT" is a classic example of how a simple concept can have five different meanings depending on where it sits in the grid. Next time you see it, you'll be ready. You won't just think of a scoreboard; you'll think of the runway, the elevator, and the kicker's toe.