It's a strategic decision. If you punt you are signalling to the other team that you don't think you can get a first down in one more down. Example: It's fourt

It's a strategic decision. If you punt you are signalling to the other team that you don't think you can get a first down in one more down. Example: It's fourth down, (your last chance), and you have eight yards to go, that means you went two yards in three downs. You can punt and push the opponent back further, or go for it and risk giving them the ball where you are now. Most of the time you would choose to punt. You give up.