With these in your armory, whether with family, friends or colleagues, you’ll be able to understand what’s going on and amaze others – or at least assert yourself – with your diverse knowledge of the world’s most popular game UNITED STATES.
backfield: This is divided into offensive and defensive sections. The offensive backfield is the area behind the offensive line where the quarterback and running back line up. The defensive backfield is the area behind the defensive line where linebackers and defensive backs line up.
Lightning: A defensive tactic in which more than four defenders, sometimes linebackers or defensive backs who do not normally cross the line of scrimmage, choose to run full force towards the opposing quarterback rather than cover the backfield (see above) to attempting to attack or gain possession of the ball.
Down: The action phase of the game during which the ball is active until it is declared dead and play stops. Most downs start with a snap from middle position, but can start with kickoffs and punts. An offense has four or fewer downs to advance 10 yards from the ball’s original position at first down to earn another first down and retain possession for another potential set of four downs. Teams start with the first down, and each down after that is numbered – second, third, and fourth. If an offense does not make the required 10 yards forward progress from the first down position, possession switches to the other team.
end zone: The area at each end of the field that teams attempt to reach in order to score a touchdown. Players must either catch the ball on the inside or carry the ball into the opponent’s end zone, which measures 10 yards by 53 ⅓ yards.
extra point: After a touchdown, a team may attempt a kick equivalent to a 33 field goal through the upright goalposts at each end of the field to score an extra point.
Field Target: A kick from a field kicker that travels through the upright goalposts earns a team three points. It can be attempted at any point in a team’s four downs, but is usually executed when a team is down to their fourth down and does not believe a touchdown is possible. The longest field goal in NFL history came from the Baltimore Ravens’ Justin Tucker in 2021. Tucker successfully converted a 66-yard field goal that bounced off the bar and over as time ticked down to give the Ravens a 19- 17 win for the Detroit Lions.
Fumble: When a player in control of the football either drops it or the opposing team kicks it loose – and that player is not considered already down and disfellowshipped by contact. Once a player fumbles, either offense or defense can recover. If the defense recovers, this is considered a turnover.
Intercept: When a defending player catches a forward pass through the offense, usually the quarterback, resulting in a change of possession.
Line of scrimmage: The virtual lines on which the offensive and defensive linemen position themselves. The offensive line extends from sideline to sideline and is marked from the front point of the ball after an umpire spots it. Players cannot pass their respective lines until the ball is caught.
Offensive line: The five players who should protect the quarterback at all costs – especially on passing plays. However, these same guards open holes for running backs to run through. Each offensive line has a center, who snatches the ball to start a down (see above), two guards, and two tackles — although more members of the offensive line can form part of the offensive line.
Penalty: If a team or player is deemed to have breached the Laws of the Game, they will be assessed a penalty. These could come in the form of a yardage penalty or loss of down. When a penalty is assessed, an official throws a yellow flag onto the field of play.
Pocket: The area formed by his offensive line around the quarterback to prevent a defensive player from bagging him.
Red Zone: The nickname for the area spanning the last 20 yards an offense must rush to score a touchdown — from the defense’s 20-yard line to the goal line.
Rush: When a ball is rushed by an offensive player running with the ball in his hands, it is called a rush.
Bag: When a defender tackles the quarterback while the ball is in his hands, behind the line of scrimmage to lose yardage.
Snap: The action that starts play from scrimmage. For a snap to occur, the center — or in some cases the long snapper — passes the ball between his legs to the quarterback, punter, or holder. In rare cases, the center can steer the snap to a running back, wide receiver, or tight end.
Special teams: The 22 players on the field in punts, field goals, extra points and breaks. Each stage will feature specialized players such as: B. Specialized players, court kickers and kick-off returners.
Landing: A touchdown is worth six points and is scored when a player carries the ball over the goal line or catches the ball in the opponent’s end zone.
Sales volume: A delightful pastry, often filled with a fruit filling – um, we digress. When a defender gains possession of the ball after the offensive team has lost it, often to a fumble or an interception.
Two point conversion: After scoring a touchdown, a team has the option to run a single play from the two-yard line of defense to earn two points rather than one point via an extra-point kick. Two-point conversion is complete when the ball is carried across the goal line or caught in the end zone, similar to a touchdown.
The essentials and slang
Audible: When a quarterback changes the play originally called in the huddle to a different play on the line of scrimmage.
Intervention: A defensive penalty if a defensive player enters the neutral zone before the snap – the area where players line up before the snap.
Rust: The playing field.
Hard Count: A technique used by quarterbacks by varying their audible snap count and directing the center when to snap the ball in an attempt to trick defensive players into inadvertently penetrating the neutral zone and the offense as a result Penalty move five yards forward.
Haste Offense: When an offensive team decides to play multiple plays in a row without huddled for advice. Usually used when time is running out, the goal is to use as little time as possible to run as many games as possible.
Icing of the kicker: The act of taking a time out just as the opposing team’s kicker is about to execute a consistent kick. The tactic is employed in hopes of disrupting the kicker’s timing and stenciling process. The theory is that the extra time puts more pressure on the kicker to consider the consequences of the situation.
In the trenches: The line of scrimmage, where the offensive and defensive linemen fight when snapping the ball.
Guy from the dressing room: Not necessarily a player who is in every game, but one who is vital to the team’s success and provides moral support both on and off the griddle (see above). Often an older player, the added experience helps rebuild teams after losses or keep a team focused after a win.
Onside Kick: An intentionally shortened kick-off in hopes that the kicking team would retain possession. Usually used at the end of games by trailing teams.
pick six: An interception (pick) run back for a touchdown.
pigskin: A nickname for actual football. The nickname supposedly comes from the story that the first soccer balls were made from an inflated pig’s bladder covered in pigskin or some similar tough leather. Today they are made from cowhide.
doggy kick: When a kicker deliberately chooses not to kick off with full force to prevent a possible runback from a dangerous backplayer. The ball often lands short – in and around blockers who rarely touch a ball during the season, let alone during a game. Usually used at the end of halves or games, the offensive team concedes yardage in the hope that they will get a result.
shotgun: When the quarterback decides to get the snap a few paces behind the center.
winning formation: If a team is trying to hold a lead and try to cut time, the team’s quarterback will kneel immediately after the snap, allowing time to run out. Usually used by a winning team at the end of halves or games.
CNN’s David Close and Homero de la Fuente contributed to this report.