Football can look confusing the first time: players run, stop, everyone lines up again. Once you know a few rules, it becomes one of the most exciting games to watch. Here is the plain-English version.
- How a team moves the ball
- How points are scored
- What the main positions do
- The penalties you will see most
The Basics
- Each team has 11 players on the field.
- The field is 100 yards long, with an end zone at each end.
- A game has four 15-minute quarters and a halftime break. The clock stops often, so a game usually takes around three hours.
- The team with the ball (offense) tries to reach the other team’s end zone. The other team (defense) tries to stop it.
Downs: The Heart of the Game
The offense gets four tries, called downs, to move the ball 10 yards. If they make it, they get a new set of four downs (a “first down”). If they fail, the other team gets the ball.
That is why you hear things like “third and 4”: it is the third try, and the team still needs 4 yards. On fourth down, teams usually punt (kick the ball away) or try a field goal, instead of risking giving the ball up close to their own end zone.
How Points Are Scored
| Play | Points | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Touchdown | 6 | The ball is carried or caught in the end zone |
| Extra point | 1 | A short kick after a touchdown |
| Two-point conversion | 2 | After a touchdown, a play from close range instead of the kick |
| Field goal | 3 | The ball is kicked between the goalposts |
| Safety | 2 | The defense tackles the ball carrier in his own end zone |
The Main Positions
Offense
- Quarterback (QB): the leader who throws or hands off the ball.
- Running back (RB): runs with the ball.
- Wide receivers (WR) and tight end (TE): catch passes; the tight end also blocks.
- Offensive line: five big players who protect the quarterback and open space for runs.
Defense
- Defensive line: pushes forward to stop runs and pressure the quarterback.
- Linebackers: tackle runners and cover short passes.
- Cornerbacks and safeties: cover receivers and stop long passes.
Special teams
The kicker, the punter and the players on the field for kicks and punts. They can win or lose close games.
The Penalties You Will See Most
| Penalty | What it means | Typical result |
|---|---|---|
| False start | An offensive player moves before the snap | Offense loses 5 yards |
| Offside | A defender crosses the line before the snap | Offense gains 5 yards |
| Holding | A player grabs an opponent illegally | 10 yards |
| Pass interference | A player blocks an opponent from catching a pass | Often a big gain for the offense |
| Roughing the passer | A late or dangerous hit on the quarterback | 15 yards and a first down |
When you see a yellow flag on the field, a referee has called a penalty. The full list is in the official NFL rulebook.
What Happens in a Tie?
If the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game goes to overtime. The overtime rules are different in the regular season and the playoffs, and the league reviews them often; the official rulebook has the current version.
How a Single Play Works
- The offense lines up at the line of scrimmage, the spot where the last play ended.
- The center passes the ball back to the quarterback: this is the snap.
- The quarterback hands the ball off, runs with it or throws a pass.
- The play ends when the ball carrier is tackled, runs out of bounds, scores or a pass falls incomplete.
- The referees spot the ball, and the teams huddle for the next play.
Words You Will Hear on TV
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Sack | The quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before throwing |
| Interception | A defender catches a pass meant for the offense |
| Fumble | A player drops the ball and either team can recover it |
| Red zone | The last 20 yards before the end zone, where scoring is likely |
| Two-minute warning | An automatic stop with two minutes left in each half |
| Turnover | When the offense loses the ball to the defense |
How the Season Works
Each of the 32 NFL teams plays 17 regular-season games over 18 weeks, with one week off, called a bye week. Teams are split into two conferences, AFC and NFC, each with four divisions. Seven teams from each conference reach the playoffs, and the two conference champions meet in the Super Bowl in February.
Following a game on your phone? The official NFL app shows drive charts that make these rules easier to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an NFL game?
Four 15-minute quarters, but with stoppages, a broadcast usually lasts around three hours.
What does “first and 10” mean?
It is the first of four tries, and the offense needs 10 yards to earn a new set of downs.
Why do teams kick on fourth down?
If they fail to gain the yards, the other team gets the ball at that spot. Punting pushes the opponent farther away.