Questions tagged [nfl]
Questions about the National Football League (NFL), the premiere professional league for American gridiron football.
308
questions
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1answer
56 views
Numbers on American football field [duplicate]
I get American football in Brazil. I try to watch the game, but, honestly, can't understand a thing.
One thing that made me curious was the numbers on the ground. For instance, there's a "1st &...
1
vote
2answers
74 views
Why is the NFL considering an 18-game season?
I'm confused as to why they might implement this next year. What are the pros of an 18-game season? What is the reasoning behind it?
1
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1answer
105 views
Since the NFL changed to the 6 team playoff format, what is the best and worst record for each rank 1-6?
What is the best and worst record in each position?
1
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1answer
31 views
If a player throws a a lateral/backward pass to a teammate and the receiver is downed behind him
For example, Team A is down by a score late in the game, say third-and-ten at the opponent's 30 yard line. A pass play is called and the quarterback throws the ball to a receiver with a gain of say 13 ...
3
votes
2answers
83 views
What are the reasons/benefits to continue with the conference structure in NFL?
Outside of history, what are the reasons/benefits to continue with the conference structure in NFL? Under the current structure, it is impossible for there to be a Superbowl between the two best teams ...
0
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0answers
40 views
Why do NFL AFC teams play against NFC during season [duplicate]
KC Chiefs played against TB Buccaneers (NFC) months before the Super Bowl : https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202011290tam.htm I was wondering how come an AFC team plays against a NFC ...
2
votes
2answers
77 views
What is a bye week in the NFL and what are some important things to know regarding this?
I've recently become a big fan of the NFL and noticed some teams had a Bye week.
What is this week for, how does it work, and what effect does it have on team strategies?
1
vote
1answer
70 views
American Football (NFL) 4th Down/Last 2 minutes Fumble Rules
I've been reading into the fumbling rules and saw this on Wikipedia. "In American football the offense cannot advance the ball if it recovers its own fumble on fourth down, or in the last two ...
2
votes
1answer
201 views
What are the 2 nfl teams that played each other the least and the most?
What are the 2 nfl teams that played each other the least and the most?
P.S. This is between two teams that exist right now not defunct teams
1
vote
1answer
64 views
First overall draft picks getting traded for one another
The Detroit Lions traded away their quarterback Mathew Stafford, in exchange for LA Ram's quarterback Jared Goff, 2 first round picks and a third round pick on January 30th 2021. The most interesting ...
1
vote
1answer
126 views
Which NFL quarterbacks traded to a new team and took them to the Super Bowl in their first season with their new team?
Much like this year’s Tom Brady situation if he were to go to the Super Bowl. It’s his first season with the Bucs, who had a losing record last year. What, if any, past quarterbacks have taken their ...
1
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2answers
64 views
Why combine stats, especially the 40-yard dash, relevant and referred to years after the draft?
Many commentators refer to a player's 40-yard dash time to make a point of how fast a player is. This is admittedly relevant by the time of the draft but not so much afterwards, one would think. Many ...
2
votes
2answers
149 views
Why could the fumble in the Browns/Jets game not be advanced?
In the game between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets on 12/27/2020, Baker Mayfield fumbled on the final Cleveland posession, at 1:25 remaining.
The ball was fumbled during an attempted ...
1
vote
1answer
176 views
NFL strength of schedule in deciding playoffs and draft picks
Why is a lower strength of schedule percentage better than a higher one when determining a playoff spot or a draft pick?
I would expect that a stronger schedule wins out over a weaker one.
1
vote
1answer
91 views
Why don't NFL defenders wrap up during tackles as much as they used to?
20, 30 years ago, by far the most common tackling style was for a defender to wrap up the ball carrier and drag him to the ground.
In the last 10 years, glancing tackles have become a lot more common. ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Ball placement when a receiver catches it
Say you are going down the field from the 1 yard line. If the receiver catches the ball and his feet are at the 10 but the ball is extended behind him at the 8. Is the ball marked down at the 10 or ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
Is the field goal good?
During a field goal, if the ball hits the ground and bounces through the uprights and above the crossbar, is it still good despite hitting the ground first?
1
vote
1answer
199 views
Highest record a nfl team can get and miss the playoffs
What is the highest record a team can get and miss the playoffs? Assume the 2019 scheduling rules and playoff setup.
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Where can I find info on “winning out” in the NFL?
When the playoffs approach, a team is said to win out if they win their remaining games on the schedule. This becomes especially important for teams who are not currently in the playoff picture.
For ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Have NFL games been played at neutral venues before?
On week 13 of the 2020 NFL season, because of strict COVID-19 restrictions in their home county of Santa Clara, the San Fransisco 49ers played the Buffalo Bills at the State Farm Stadium in Arizona, ...
3
votes
1answer
49 views
Who is awarded the sack when a player is not actually tackled?
On December 6, 2020 at 4:30pm, the Green Bay Packers played a most riveting contest with the Philadelphia Eagles.
On one play where Green Bay was in possession, Aaron Rodgers (the Green Bay QB) was ...
2
votes
1answer
145 views
Why does the official say “prior to the pass” or “after the pass” when calling a defensive holding?
Is there a difference in enforcement if the holding penalty happened after and not before a pass? This is NFL if it makes a difference.
1
vote
1answer
92 views
Could a track superstar be successful in the NFL?
Could an Olympic track star, such as Usain Bolt, see success in NFL Football, as a wide receiver or cornerback? Would their speed translate to NFL success? Or does olympic-gold-medal-winning ...
2
votes
1answer
331 views
NFL teams with as many or more thrown interceptions than completions in a game
The Denver Broncos had only a single completion pass while they threw 2 interceptions against the New Orleans Saints in week 12 of the 2020 season. The low completion count was due to all the Broncos ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
What team rebounded the best and worst?
My question is which team from a prior season did really good the next season.For example: team a gets a 3-13 record and is 30th team and next season gets a really good ranking(counting the playoffs ...
-4
votes
1answer
488 views
What happens when the QB throws the ball and it lands behind the line of scrimmage without being caught by either team? [closed]
QB throws ball and lands behind line of scrimmage without being caught by either team an hits the ground
3
votes
1answer
280 views
What is the earliest a team can clinch a division?
My question is what week is the earliest you can clinch a division?
What would the other teams in the division and conference have to be like?
Also what is the earliest you can clinch the playoffs(so ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
Could an immediate field goal be advantageous in NFL?
Consider this strategy: If a team reaches the 40 or so yard line, it would immediately go for the field goal attempt, instead of trying the touch down.
This could be considered "small ball", ...
1
vote
3answers
288 views
Why do they have fake crowd noises in the NFL?
Because of COVID-19, the NFL stands are empty. They are stimulating the crowd with audio. It reminds me of a laugh track on TV, which I find to be very annoying.
Why do they have these fake crowd ...
1
vote
1answer
169 views
What have been the NFL scoring rules changes?
I'm looking for a list of all scoring and scoring-related rules changes in the NFL. While the NFL goes back to 1920s, I'll be satisfied with just a list of rules changes going back to 1970, when the ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Why do the players in this video appear to be trying not to get a touchdown?
There's a clickbaitily-titled "Smartest '1000 IQ Plays' in Sports History" video on YouTube. The second and fourth clips in the video both have American football players apparently trying ...
0
votes
3answers
123 views
NFL: going for it on fourth and 1
I'm a soccer fan and rarely watch NFL. But one thing that bemuses me is the conservatism in the game.
Why do teams not go for it more often on 4th and 1? The stats show it's a good play. The reward ...
0
votes
2answers
666 views
Super Bowl home field advantage - home team vs away?
My understanding is that the AFC and NFC alternate nominal home and away team status in the Super Bowl. In the theoretical case where a team makes it to the Super Bowl in the same year that their ...
5
votes
1answer
183 views
Why do teams almost always pass on 2-point conversions?
I found an article saying that from 2011-2017, there were 506 two-point conversion attempts in the NFL, and 79% of those plays were passes. Is there any explanation for why teams pass so often on two-...
0
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2answers
85 views
NFL game in which a team scores a late TD to pull within one point and then attempts a two-point conversion?
Has there ever been a regular season or playoff game in the NFL in which a team trailed by 7 points in the final 2 minutes, scored a touchdown to pull within one point, and instead of kicking the ...
0
votes
1answer
698 views
What are the fewest passing yards by quarterbacks in an NFL playoffs win?
At the end of the Tennessee Titans victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round of the 2019-2020 playoffs, the commentators announced that Ryan Tannehil became the first Quarterback to ...
0
votes
1answer
104 views
How does a fumble at kickoff or a punt - recovered by kicking team - affect win conditions in overtime?
In the NFL, Overtime conditions state that if the team to possess the ball first score a Touchdown on their first possession, then they win the game. If they score a Field Goal, or fail to score, then ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
Does the coin have to flip in NFL rules?
In a 2016 NFL playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the Arizona Cardinals, the game went to overtime. On the overtime coin flip, the referee threw the coin in the air and it didn't flip. The ...
2
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2answers
81 views
Largest comeback against Bill Belichick Patriots
What is the largest deficit overcome against the New England Patriots in the Bill Belichick era? I have searched all over the Internet and cannot find a clear answer.
0
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2answers
261 views
NFL players with multiple punt return touchdowns in a game
Nyheim hines of the Indianapolis Colts returned 2 punts for touchdowns in the week 16 game of the 2019-20 season against the Carolina Panthers.
How many players have returned multiple punts for ...
0
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1answer
50 views
What would have to happen to break LaDanian Tomlinson's 2006 season, 31 touchdown record? [closed]
In 2006, LaDanian Tomlinson set the record for total touchdowns scored (rushing and receiving) at 31.
What would need to happen to eclipse this mark? I'm wondering about the attributes of the player....
0
votes
1answer
50 views
When was the last time a kicker was released after making two 60+ yard field goals during the season?
In 2019, Brett Maher made a 62 and 63 yard field goals during the season. However, he was released on 9 Dec 2019.
When was the last time a kicker was released after making two (or more) 60+ yard ...
4
votes
2answers
421 views
What is the highest strength of victory that can be attained by an NFL team?
A follow-up to the question What is “Strength of Victory”?:
I was trying to find the theoretical maximum of a team's strength of victory (SOV) after an NFL regular season is complete. Certainly, just ...
3
votes
1answer
146 views
Field goal then safety in overtime?
I know this scenario is extremely unlikely and will probably never occur, bit I am still curious. Say, overtime starts and Team A receives the ball first. They end up kicking a field goal and the ball ...
2
votes
2answers
492 views
Where is the ball spotted on a quarterback slide
When a quarterback slides feet first, is the ball spotted at the feet or where the ball is held in the hands, which could be 2 or 3 feet behind the feet?
1
vote
1answer
3k views
Rule for stopping / starting the clock when running out of bounds with the football in NFL & NCAA
What are the rules and are they the same in NCAA and NFL when it comes to stopping and starting the game clock when a player runs out of bounds with the football.
What I have found out is that ...
5
votes
2answers
356 views
When calculating red zone efficiency, does a team need to have a first down in the red zone?
An NFL team's red zone efficiency/percentage is calculated by taking the number of touchdowns scored in the red zone and dividing it by the number of trips to the red zone. (A team is in the red zone ...
2
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0answers
60 views
Is it allowed for the quarterback (or someone else) to punt the ball if he can't find another play?
If the quarterback (or someone else) on fourth down gets in trouble and hasn't passed the line of scrimmage, can he change the intended play and instead punt the ball away?
3
votes
1answer
6k views
When is a penalty enforced by half the distance to goal in american football
When getting close to the goal line in american football a penalty is enforced by half the distance to goal.
From what yards does that start or does that depend on the penalty (5/10/15 yards)?
2
votes
1answer
85 views
How does a player re-establish position infield?
So in the NFL if a player goes out of bounds on a play he must "re-establish position" inbounds before he can touch the ball. How or what does re-establishing position entail?
