Questions tagged [nfl]
Questions about the National Football League (NFL), the premiere professional league for American gridiron football.
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What rules govern touchdowns/touchbacks if there is a fumble involved?
I have a question specifically about a passage of the official NFL 2018 rulebook (https://operations.nfl.com/media/3277/2018-nfl-rulebook_final-version.pdf).
Please take a look at Rule 3 - Section 2 -...
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Timeout in play ball
How can a time out be called during a field goal attempt if the ball is not dead. The center has the ball placed, the play clock is running.
The Referee shall suspend play while the ball is dead and ...
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How are NFL matchups determined for each season?
During the 2012 NFL Season, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens play each other in weeks 11 and 13, two weeks (in both NFL schedule and time) apart. To me, that seems too close for comfort.
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What are the top 5 lowest scoring super bowls?
The New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams 13 - 3 in Super Bowl LIII in the lowest scoring super bowl of all time.
What are the top 5 lease scoring super bowls ever? Please list the teams ...
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If a ball carrier falls to the ground, how many seconds will the umps allow the clock to run? [duplicate]
If a ball carrier falls to the ground, and the other team wishes to run the clock because they are leading, how many seconds will the umps allow the clock to run?
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NFL #1 offense getting shut out in a half in the postseason
The Kansas City Chiefs had the #1 offense of the 2018 regular season. The New England Patriots shut out the Cheifs 14 - 0 in the first half of the AFC Championship game. The Patriots eventually beat ...
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Reviewing a penalty in the NFL
The referees ruled that the Jets had too many defensive players on the field by a review in their game on December 23, 2018.
Can you review offside, holding, or any penalty for that matter?
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Another crossbar in american football
Could anyone tell me, why there is no crossbar on the upper side of the uprights in american football? It would make officiating difficult situations easier. Is there an engineering reason? Is it ...
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NFL broadcast info---HS or college affiliation? What does that mean?
When a professional football player introduces himself and states his college affiliation, must that player have graduated from that college or does 3 years allow for him to declare that school ...
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Which players have played against one team three times during one regular season?
In 2018, Golden Tate played against the Cowboys as a member of the Lions in Week 7. He will play against the Cowboys as a member of the Eagles in Weeks 10 and 14.
Which players have played against ...
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Are you down if your head touches a defender who is laying on the ground?
It's my understanding that if you touch the ground with your head (while in contact with a defender) you are down. Are you down if your head touches the defender who is sitting/laying on the ground (...
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NFL: Can timeout be called before first opening drive snap?
In the AFC Divisional Playoff round game between the Steelers and Broncos on Sunday January 17 2016, I noticed a hesitation longer than usual before the first snap from scrimmage on the opening drive.
...
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What is the specification for the Kicking out of bounds rule?
During various games, the kickers of each team accidentally kick the ball out of bounds. Usually, when the kick crosses the midfield line, and goes deeper into the receiving team's territory, it is ...
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NFL standings: 8-6-2 team vs 9-7-0 team?
Are they considered to have the same records? One should just apply tie-breaking procedures?
NFL rules say:
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with ...
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Running After Being Knocked Off Feet in the NFL
In what year(s) in the NFL was the runner allowed to get up and run after being knocked off his feet, as long as they weren't tackled and held down? From memory, it only lasted 1 or 2 years because it ...
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In the NFL, how have teams fared against odds from Las Vegas?
Is a home team more or less likely to beat the spread than an away team? Do favored teams or underdogs win against the spread more often? Please include statistics/studies instead of just guessing.
...
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Are linemen required to use a 3-point-stance in American football?
In American football, are linemen required to use a 3-point-stance?
If they wanted to, could they stand (without moving) next to the line of scrimmage before the snap?
Are there different ...
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Out of PAT range
Now that the point after touchdown attempt in the NFL makes for a challenging kick, has successive offensive penalties ever taken a team out of range for the PAT?
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Has any player ever won Super Bowl MVP, Pro Bowl MVP, and MVP in the same season?
Please tell me the name, position, and team of any players that have done this, as well as the year it happened. Also, have any players done it in different seasons?
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What is the distinction between a play that counts after the whistle is blown and doesn't count in the National Football League?
Let's say the following scenario occurs. A quarterback throws a screen pass, and the player drops it. There is a whistle for an incomplete pass, and a player on defense grabs the ball and returns it ...
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Why isn't spiking the football intentional grounding?
I understand that spiking the football is a time management technique in American football, but I don't understand why there is no penalty (e.g. intentional grounding) associated with it?
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Why do the captains of the New England Patriots not wear captain patches?
Before the 2012-2013 season, the Patriots released their captain list...
Tom Brady
Logan Mankins
Vince Wilfork
Jerod Mayo
Devin McCourty
Matthew Slater
However, none of these players wear the ...
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How does a rookie in the NFL Negotiate Contract
I noticed that Saquon Barkley has an extremely high salary. How is a rookies salary established after the draft if the player does not have a choice on which team he goes to?
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What do referees do during halftime?
This question largely pertains to basketball and American football. I've seen footage from the team locker rooms during halftime where the coaches and players go over issues from the first half that ...
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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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Is there any guideline the NFL uses to refrain from calling a penalty due to unusual celebrations or mass reactions?
In the NFL's NFC Divisional playoff game on 2018-01-14 between Minnesota and New Orleans, Minnesota's Stephon Diggs scored a touchdown as time expired in the fourth quarter to take the lead and thus ...
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What happens if an NFL kicker totally misses the ball on a kickoff?
If during a kick-off, for example at the beginning of a half or after a score, the kicker totally misses the ball when he goes to kick, what happens? Would it be a penalty for delay of game?
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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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Is hiking the football required or just a good idea?
In football, the ball starts at the line of scrimmage and from there is hiked back to the quarterback. Doing this creates room for the quarterback to make passing or running plays. Clearly hiking the ...
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What does the third number in a NFL team's record stand for?
What does the third number in a NFL team's record stand for?
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Nfl overtime rules [duplicate]
What happens if the team receiving the kickoff in overtime drives the ball for almost 10 minutes (unlikely but possible) and then kicks a field goal as the 10 minutes run out? Do they win?
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When was the last time the Bills, Lions, Browns, & Jets won on the same day?
On October 6, 2018, the Bills, Lions, Browns and Jets all won. When was the last time the Bills, Lions, Browns, & Jets won on the same day? Or even the same week?
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Why is NFL season significantly shorter compared to most other sports?
I am not sure but if I remember correctly the NFL teams play 15-16 games during regular season and a couple more in the play-offs if they can make it the whole way. Why such a short season, in ...
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Why aren't women allowed in training camp?
Jeff Fisher cut Deon Long for bringing a woman to his dorm room. What's the big deal?
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/08/09/jeff-fisher-cut-deon-long-for-bringing-a-woman-to-his-camp-dorm-...
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How to read an NFL "state of game" format
This is the current "state" of an NFL game. What does it mean?
3rd and 24 on SF 20 yd
where SF is San Francisco
Nij♦
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Is it a reception if a receiver hops twice on one foot?
Assuming an NFL receiver catches a ball and maintains possession, if he hops twice on the same foot before going out of bounds, does it count as a catch? Does the rule book specifically say it needs ...
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Is it legal to ice your own kicker?
In the NFL a Coach can call a timeout right before the kicker kicks the ball in order to affect the kicker's chance of succeeding. In many cases, the kicker will take the kick twice, once right after ...
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What prevents a player/team from agreeing to a long-term contract after the franchise tag deadline?
This afternoon is the NFL franchise tag deadline. I keep hearing radio hosts talking about it as the deadline to sign a long-term deal. However, I was under the impression that once this deadline ...
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How much does a dropped NFL player earn while with a team during the pre-season
In the latest episode of NFL Hard Knocks the Browns are dropping players to get to the 53 that are allowed during the regular season.
As I understand it, if a dropped player isn't picked up by ...
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If you are on waivers and under contract in the NFL can you get credit for serving a suspension?
For example, if Johnny Manziel is under contract with Cleveland for the 2016 season, he will likely get put on waivers and a suspension from the NFL.
Will he get credit for serving a suspension (e....
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Lateral Passes in the NFL
Why are lateral passes so rare in the NFL?
I've seen quite a few situations in which it would seem advantageous.
For example in a 2v1, 2v2 setting when the ball carrier is about to be tackled, why ...
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Why wasn't Schwartz's challenge during the Thanksgiving Lions/Texans reviewed?
During the Nov 22, 2012 Detroit Lions/Houston Texans game, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz challenged a scoring play where the runner appeared to be down by contact. Since scoring plays are ...
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Why does an unsuccessful NFL challenge result in the loss of a timeout?
What is the reason an NFL team loses a timeout if it challenges and the challenge fails?
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Are there any other instances of a coach's challenge backfiring?
My title just refers to "coach's challenge" so it will be shorter. I intend to also include other non-neutrally-initiated replay review, such as for example manager's challenges .
The one instance ...
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Is a double-challenge possible?
In American football (NFL), is it possible for both teams to challenge on the same thing for the same play?
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Why is an illegal shift treated as a false start at the end of a half in American football?
On 2 November 2015 near the end of the Seahawks-Cowboys game, the Cowboys were down by 1 but had possession of the ball. They had no timeouts and next to no time left on the clock. Hurrying to get a ...
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What's the difference between "questionable" vs "doubtful" injury designations in the NFL?
In the NFL, what is the difference between each of the designations for questionable vs doubtful? Which one is more severe?
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San Francisco 49ers uniform colors: White or red?
I always thought they wore red while home and white while away. However, when I saw the highlights of their first game (2014 season) against the Cowboys on 8 September 2014, I noticed them wearing red ...
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Can an intercepting player be down by contact that occurs before the interception?
Consider a scenario where a receiver runs a post route to the goal line. A linebacker drops back into coverage, jumps, and tips the pass right before the goal line. In the act of deflecting the pass, ...
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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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