push the ball down the field

[unpakwon]

Would you please explain the following in bold?

The Coca-Cola Company helped to push the ball down the field when, breaking rank with the vast majority of American corporations, it boldly chose to voluntarily expense options in July 2002.

I can understand the first one literally. But what's the figurative meaning in the context?

And does "expense options" mean "to treat stock options as an expense on the balance sheet"?

Thank you.

 

[SoothingDave]

To push the ball down the field is to move towards the goal. That's what it means when used figuratively.

This seems to be talking about corporations "expensing options" and this seemingly was not a standard business practice. Coca Cola helped to make this practice standard and accepted.

 

[unpakwon]

I see.

Thank you for the answer.