Questions tagged [american-football]
Questions about the sport of American football. This should not be confused with the [football] tag, which only applies to the sport called "soccer" in most of North America.
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What are the strategical differences of playing under centre and out of the shotgun?
During NFL games the commentators often talk about the play design. One thing that comes up a lot is the formation at the time of snap and quarterback's play readability. The quarterback could be ...
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Are football fields 100 yards long. Document by reconciling space between yard markers
How can football field be 100 yards long when there are presumably 32" between each 4" yard marker.
It does not add up when you measure from fifty-yard line (or any other).
From the 1 yard line, there ...
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Which of these sports requires a definite winner and loser?
From what I can see, the following sports require that there has to be a winner/loser (draws aren't possible due to some continuation rule that leads to a winning result):
Basketball
Baseball
...
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Longest 3rd and 4th down conversions
In week 9 of 2017 season LA Rams converted a 3rd and 33 and scored a touchdown on the same play against the New York Giants.
Inspired by this, I'm wondering what are the longest 3rd and 4th down ...
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NFL fields missing team logo
NFL teams usually have their team logo painted in the middle of their home field on the 50 yard line.
I've noticed that some stadiums are missing the logo and instead have the NFL logo printed at the ...
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Why does NFL have games on Thursdays?
Players and specially coaches don't like playing on short weeks. It doesn't give the players enough time to heal from the previous game, and it makes it tough for the coaches to come up with game ...
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me when I take down a standing pile by jumping on top?
When I see a standing pile or freinds trying to tackle another person I jusm on top and with me being the heaviest on the team it comes down, yet the refs pull me aside and scream at me not to do it, ...
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Why was Iowa's long snapper an eligible receiver after snapping the ball on Iowa Nov. 4, 2017 swinging gate play?
On Nov. 4, 2017 Iowa ran a trick play in their upset of Ohio State in which their long snapper hiked the ball to the punter before running down the field and catching a pass. The long snapper was ...
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What would prevent the NFL from expanding to a 19 game season?
There has long been team discomfort in Thursday night and international games because teams have a reduced rest period. A 2 bye-weeks schedule was attempted in 1993, but was dropped, it seemed in ...
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Did the Dallas Cowboys's Jeff Heath practice kicking at all since high school?
On 22nd October 2017, the Dallas Cowboys's kicker, Dan Bailey, was injured during their game against the San Francisco 49ers. For the rest of the game, strong safety Jeff Heath handled the kicking ...
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Airborne receiver heading out of bounds
If an airborne receiver heading out of bounds reaches out and breaks the plane of the end zone with the ball, moments after the ball was held outside the field of play (over the sideline), shouldn't ...
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In American football, where do the officials mark the tackle?
I watch both NFL and CFL, so I might be confusing what each league does, but here is what I think I have noticed:
sometimes a player gets the ball after the snap, they are blocked, and they are ...
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Which NFL teams have natural grass stadiums?
What percentage of NFL teams play on natural grass at their home stadium?
How many are indoor versus outdoor fields? Please further breakdown the percentages for indoors and outdoors fields. When ...
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What NFL teams have been shutout in consecutive games?
Miami Dolphins were almost shutout for the 2nd consecutive game. A TD as time expired last week vs. Jets are only points Miami has in last 2 games.
Has a team ever been shutout in consecutive games?
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Has the Lambeau Leap been banned at all NFL stadiums except Lambeau Field?
The Lambeau Leap is a celebration started by Green Bay Packers players who leap into the stands after scoring a touchdown at Lambeau Field. The celebration has spread across the NFL though, because I'...
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When does a penalty result in an automatic first down in NFL?
I believe there are penalties that once accepted automatically yield a first down. And there are others that don't always result in a first down, put depending on the location of the foul (regarding ...
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Why are NFL players introduced with their college team?
At the beginning of many prime time NFL games, the starting players say their names and the college they attended. Why are the college names announced?
Many of these players have been in the league ...
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Backward pass NFL
Why is a not caught Backward pass a fumble and not a incomplete pass? I know all the new rules about a complete pass and why a uncaught pass is incomplete and not a fumble. But I saw a droped backward ...
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How can NFL legally suspend players for off field actions
Inspired by the deflate gate and Ezekiel Elliott's now halted suspension, I'm wondering how the NFL can legally suspend players for off the field behaviours. Are there clauses in the contracts and CBA ...
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What is the meaning of these American football trash talk expressions?
This video humorously lists possible trash-talking in the NFL. What is the joke of the following "insults"?
#5 Your receivers can't run a clean route on a Hail Mary.
What is a clean route and why ...
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How many seasons did Steve Young play?
Steve Young, in an interview, stated that he played 18 seasons of football.
However, if you look at the Wikipedia page on him, it lists 17 seasons (15 in the NFL, 2 in the USFL), not 18.
How can ...
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Nfl history - Pre 1950's [duplicate]
I'm an old guy. I seem to remember a day (40s or 50s) where a NFL runner was tackled and would be allowed to get up and continue to run. This was before the runner was considered down if his knee ...
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What are the black bars beneath American Footballer's eyes are used for?
I often see football players with black bars right under their eyes.
I can't figure out a reason why they are necessary. What are they used for?
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Does a penalty yardage greater than the "yards to go" always lead to 1st down in American football?
Scenario: The offensive team has 2nd & 4 at the defensive team's 20 yard line and the defensive team concedes a 5-yard pre-snap penalty.
The offensive team moves five yards up the field, but what ...
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Do NCAA College Football athletes have to provide their own helmets?
As someone not living in the US and not seen much of the NCAA college football, I was wondering whether or not the athletes have to supply their own helmets as they get sprayed and painted the ...
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Can a 5-yard penalty be conceded by the defence when the offence is less than 5 yard from the goal line in American football?
Scenario: Line of scrimmage is at the defensive team's 12 yard line and the defensive team concedes a 15-yard pre-snap penalty.
Normally the offensive team would move up 15 yards, but what happens ...
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Cincinnati Bengals All-Time leading tackler?
I was wondering if anyone could find out who this person is? I cannot find this information and would really like to know.
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NFL record for most number of interceptions within one instance of scoring?
My brother and I were discussing some things when a question of curiosity came up that Google could not seem to answer:
In the NFL, what is the record for number of interceptions (by either team) ...
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Rushing yards vs passing yards vs receiving yards?
I'm trying to understand football and some of its basic stats, and I'm not clear on the difference between these three.
Rushing yards:
A statistic in football that records the total number of ...
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NFL team "getting rid" of a player
NFL teams can cut or trade players they're no longer interested in. However, if the player is under a guaranteed contract, the team may have to pay him for as many years as his contract is valid.
In ...
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Are 2016 Patriots the only Super Bowl Champions who never led during the game?
The New England Patriots beat Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI in overtime. During regulation they never led the game. The only time they ever led was at the end of the game. Does this make the ...
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Is it more common to score on a kickoff return or a punt return?
During the Super Bowl LI last night, the FOX commentators mentioned that a punt has never been returned for a touchdown during a Super Bowl. My first thought was of Desmond Howard in Super Bowl XXXI, ...
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Is the receiving team more likely to win a overtime?
As I learned, one part of the overtime rules is:
If the receiving team scores a touchdown on the first drive, said team will win.
It sounds unfair to me, as it's likely that both teams could do ...
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NFL players with at least 5 Super Bowl rings
The New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime of Super Bowl 51 (2017) to win the Lombardi Trophy. This makes Tom Brady (the quarterback of the New England Patriots) the first ...
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What are the biggest comebacks in NFL postseason history?
The New England Patriots overcame a 25 point deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51. What are the top 5 comebacks in the NFL playoffs history?
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In North American football, why are 2 of the 5 offensive linemen called "tackles"?
In North American football, why are 2 of the offensive linemen referred to as "offensive tackles"? I mean, 1) they're not allowed, under the rules, to tackle anyone, and 2) there is no equivalent ...
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Why is Matt Ryan nicknamed "Matty Ice"?
Where did Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan get his nickname?
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NFL division with 3 teams in the playoffs
Under the current NFL playoffs format, each conference sends 6 teams to the postseason: the 4 division champions and 2 wild card teams. So the most teams a division can have in the playoffs is 3; the ...
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What are the pass interference rules on a quarterback throwing a pass to self?
This may be a bit unanswerable but seeing if the community can come up with any historical conversations or rules.
We have a quarterback boot we put into the playbook. The wide receivers are trips ...
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Why do NFL (american football) right tackles make less than left tackles?
According to over the cap, the total value of the highest contract for left tackle is Tyron Smith at $97 Million a $13.2 million average per year. The highest right tackle contract is Layne Johnson, $...
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Number 5 seeds hosting NFL conference championship game
Under the current format that 6 teams from each conference make it to the playoffs, how many times has a #5 seed hosted the conference championship game?
In order for the #5 seed to host the game, ...
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Can a player who is out of bounds help a teammate stay in-bounds?
This question came up among my friends while we were watching the Packers triumph over the Giants this evening:
Suppose a receiver is catching a pass along the sideline. He's got one foot in-bounds, ...
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Would the offensive line lying down at the snap be an effective trick play in American football?
If the offense is confident the defensive line is going to rush the quarterback on a passing play, would it be effective as a trick play for the offensive line to lie down after the snap?
The idea ...
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What determines the kick receiver's location when he catches the kick?
In calculating the distance covered by a kick returner, how is his starting location determined? I believe that it should be the location of his rearmost foot at the time he catches the ball. I have ...
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Does NFL have substitute referees?
The line judge Sarah Thomas got hit during Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings game in week 16 of 2016 season. She was taken off the field for further evaluation. So given that she was not on the ...
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NFL teams beating the same team 3 times in a season
As of the end of week 15 of 2016 season, the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants have a chance of facing off in the playoffs. The Giants have dealt the Cowboys their only 2 losses of the season so ...
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NFL blocked punt rules
During the Giants vs Lions game on December 18th 2016 there was a punt partially blocked by the Lions. The ball was deflected after the punter kicked it by a Lions player. This resulted in the ball ...
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Pittsburgh had to lose to make the playoffs [closed]
Nearing the end of a historic season, it was possible for Pittsburgh to make the playoffs only if they lost a game:
by losing, they might be in a 3-team tiebreaker which they would win.
otherwise, ...
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Why are WR in the slot covered by non-CBs in American football?
It's College Bowl season and I'm seeing/hearing some things from the announcers that I need some clarification on. Please note, I have never played any organized football before so all I know is from ...
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How skillful are major polls at predicting the winner of sports, particularly college football?
And how does this skill vary during the season?
For decades we've heard the presentation that polls are biased, especially in preseason, and lazily voted on.
Does empirical data generally bear this ...
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