There are times a defense gets backed up so far in its own end of the field that the space left between the ball and the goal line is barely wide enough to contain a breath of fresh air.
Maybe once or twice a game on average, the football field will be compressed to the point where the 11 players on one side are within a handshake's distance of the 11 on the other side, all in an effort to control that tiny bit of real estate.
During those times, it is best to remember that despite all the classroom preparation, film study and practice application, it comes down to doing whatever it takes to prevent a touchdown.
"So much is about technique in football," Green Bay Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji said. "This is one of the few times you just have fun. It's just us against them. They're here, and we have to stop them.
"You don't have to worry about technique, just come off the ball."
Yes, the goal-line stand is about strength and power. Often it's not about beauty.
The percentage of teams that stop their opponent from scoring a touchdown after a first and goal from the 5-yard line or closer is just 20.9%. There are all kinds of things players are taught when they line up with their feet in the end zone, but sometimes you just do what linebacker A.J. Hawk did against the Chicago Bears last week.
On second and goal at the Packers' 1-yard line, the Bears lined up eight blockers across their front with quarterback Jay Cutler under center, fullback Evan Rodriguez offset to the right and running back Matt Forte in the I-formation.
At the snap of the ball, the linemen pulled to the right, and Hawk, knowing they were coming at him, took a flying leap into the line, landing on the right shoulder of center Roberto Garza, who eventually crumbled under the weight and momentum of the 242-pound Hawk and fell right into the path of Forte.
"He was pulling, and just how the play opened or for some reason, I tried to jump over him and figured I could make a pile or something," Hawk said. "I jumped and I was almost stuck on top of his shoulders.
"I don't think he was sure what to do; it like stunned him because he was ready for me to come in low on him because sometimes you can chop them and try to make a pile. It was awkward. I was almost laughing in the middle of the play."
Hawk's Wallenda act was unconventional to say the least, but he was in the spot he was supposed to be and created enough of a speed bump that when Forte slowed to navigate through the traffic, linebacker Brad Jones came in and cleaned up for no gain.