The N.F.L. playoffs, which begin Saturday afternoon, will probably bring high-stakes moments around a simple decision: After a touchdown, should your team kick for one point, or go for two?

The 2-point try — where teams get to run one play to score from the 2-yard line — was initially a hit with coaches when it was introduced to the N.F.L. in 1994, but its popularity soon faded. In recent seasons that trend has reversed, with 2-point attempts becoming more common thanks to rule changes and to the growing role of analytics.

For those who enjoy strategy, this trend has brought a welcome dose of tactics to what was once an automatic decision to kick. (Week 17’s game between Detroit and Dallas, which hinged on not one or two but three consecutive 2-point attempts in the game’s final seconds, typified both the strategic and emotional factors at play.)