NFL: What is it and how does it work?

American Football is one of the most popular sports in the United States. And for good reason, it is a game FULL of action and adventure. But what exactly is the NFL?

The NFL (National Football League), the American professional football league, has 32 teams. 4 divisions of 4 teams in 2 conferences: AFC and NFC. Teams play 16 games in a season, top 6 playoffs per conference and the Super Bowl of AFC against NFC winner.

In this article I will tell you all about the NFL and its history.

What is the NFL?

American Football is the most watched sport in the US

American football is the most popular sport in the United States. In surveys of Americans, it is considered their favorite sport by a majority of respondents. American football's ratings easily surpass those of other sports.

The National Football League (NFL)

The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league in the United States. The NFL has 32 teams divided into two conferences, the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Each conference is divided into four divisions, North, South, East and West with four teams in each.

The Superbowl

The championship game, the Super Bowl, is watched by nearly half of American television households and is also televised in more than 150 other countries. The day of the game, Super Bowl Sunday, is a day when many fans throw parties to watch the game and invite friends and family to eat and watch the game. It is considered by many to be the greatest day of the year.

The objective of the game

The object of American football is to score more points than your opponent in the allotted time. The offensive team must move the ball down the field in stages to finally get the ball into the end zone for a touchdown (goal). This can be achieved by catching the ball in this end zone, or running with the ball into the end zone. But only one forward pass is allowed in each play.

Each offensive team gets 4 chances ('downs') to move the ball 10 yards forward, towards the opponent's end zone, ie the defense. If the offensive team has indeed advanced 10 yards, it wins a first down, or another set of four downs to advance 10 yards. If 4 downs have passed and the team has failed to reach 10 yards, the ball is turned over to the defending team, who will then play on offense.

physical sport

American football is a contact sport, or a physical sport. To prevent the attacker from running with the ball, the defense must tackle the ball carrier. As such, defensive players must use some form of physical contact to stop the ball carrier, within limits rules and guidelines.

Defenders must not kick, hit or trip the ball carrier. They are also not allowed to grab the face mask on the opponent's helmet or initiate physical contact with their own helmet. Most other forms of tackling are legal.

Players are required to wear special protective equipment such as a padded plastic helmet, shoulder pads, hip pads and knee pads. Despite protective gear and rules to emphasize safety, injuries in football remain common. For example, it's becoming less and less common for running backs (who take the most hits) in the NFL to make it through an entire season without sustaining an injury. Concussions are also common: About 41.000 high school students suffer a concussion each year, according to the Brain Injury Association of Arizona.

Alternatives

Flag football and touch football are less violent variants of the game that are growing in popularity and gaining more and more attention worldwide. Flag football is also more likely to become an Olympic sport one day.

How big is an American football team?

In the NFL, 46 active players are allowed per team on game day. As a result, players have highly specialized roles, and almost all of the 46 active players have a different job.

The founding of the American Professional Football Association

A meeting that changed history

In August 1920, representatives of several American football teams met to form the American Professional Football Conference (APFC). Their goals? Raising the level of professional teams and seeking cooperation in compiling match schedules.

The first seasons

In the first season of the APFA (formerly APFC), there were fourteen teams, but not a balanced schedule. Matches were mutually agreed and matches were also played against teams that were not members of the APFA. In the end, the Akron Pros won the title, being the only team not to lose a single game.

The second season saw an increase to 21 teams. These were encouraged to join as matches against other APFA members would count towards the title.

Dubious Championships

The 1921 title fight was a controversial affair. Buffalo All-Americans and the Chicago Staleys were both undefeated when they met. Buffalo won the game, but the Staleys called for a rematch. In the end, the title was given to the Staleys, as their win was more recent than the All-Americans.

In 1922, the APFA was renamed to its current name, but teams continued to come and go. The 1925 title fight was also dubious: the Pottsville Maroons played an exhibition game against the team from the University of Notre Dame, which was against the rules. Eventually, the title was given to the Chicago Cardinals, but the owner declined. It wasn't until the Cardinals changed ownership in 1933 that the new owner claimed the 1925 title.

The NFL: A Beginner's Guide

The Regular Season

In the NFL, teams are not required to play against all league members every year. The seasons usually start on the first Thursday after Labor Day (early September) with the so-called kickoff game. That is normally a home game of the defending champion, which is broadcast live on NBC.

The regular season consists of sixteen games. Each team plays against:

• 6 matches against the other teams in the division (two matches against each team).
• 4 matches against the teams from another division within the same conference.
• 2 matches against the teams from the other two divisions within the same conference, which finished in the same position last season.
• 4 matches against the teams from a division of the other conference.

There is a rotation system for the divisions the teams play against each season. Thanks to this system, teams are assured that they will meet a team from the same conference (but from a different division) at least once every three years and a team from the other conference at least once every four years.

The Playoffs

At the end of the regular season, twelve teams (six per conference) qualify for the playoffs towards the Super Bowl. The six teams are ranked 1-6. The division winners get numbers 1-4 and the wild cards get numbers 5 and 6.

The playoffs consist of four rounds:

• Wild Card Playoffs (in practice, the round of XNUMX of the Super Bowl).
• Divisional Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
• Conference Championships (semifinals)
• Super Bowl

In each round, the lowest number plays at home against the highest.

Where are the 32 NFL teams?

The National Football League (NFL) is the largest league in the United States when it comes to professional American football. With 32 teams playing in two different conferences, there is always some action to be found. But where exactly are these teams located? Here is a list of all 32 NFL teams and their geographic location.

American Football Conference (AFC)

• Buffalo Bills–Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park (Buffalo)
• Miami Dolphins–Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens (Miami)
• New England Patriots – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Massachusetts)
• New York Jets–MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
• Baltimore Ravens–M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
• Cincinnati Bengals–Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati
• Cleveland Browns–FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
• Pittsburgh Steelers–Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
• Houston Texans–NRG Stadium, Houston
• Indianapolis Colts–Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
• Jacksonville Jaguars–TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville
• Tennessee Titans–Nissan Stadium, Nashville
• Denver Broncos–Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
• Kansas City Chiefs–Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
• Las Vegas Raiders – Allegiant Stadium, Paradise (Las Vegas)
• Los Angeles Chargers–SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (Los Angeles)

National Football Conference (NFC)

• Dallas Cowboys–AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
• New York Giants–MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
• Philadelphia Eagles–Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
• Washington Commanders – FedEx Field, Landover (Washington)
• Chicago Bears–Soldier Field, Chicago
• Detroit Lions–Ford Field, Detroit
• Green Bay Packers–Lameau Field, Green Bay
• Minnesota Vikings–U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
• Atlanta Falcons – Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta
• Carolina Panthers–Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
• New Orleans Saints–Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers–Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay
• Arizona Cardinals–State Farm Stadium, Glendale (Phoenix)
• Los Angeles Rams–SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (Los Angeles)
• San Francisco 49ers–Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
• Seattle Seahawks–Lumen Field, Seattle

The NFL is one of the most popular sports in the United States and has a huge fan base. The teams are spread all over the country, so there is always an NFL game near you. Whether you're a fan of the Cowboys, the Patriots, or the Seahawks, there's always a team you can support.

Don't miss your chance to see an American Football game in New York!

What is American Football?

American Football is a sport where two teams compete against each other to score the most points. The field is 120 yards long and 53.3 yards wide. Each team has four attempts, called “downs,” to get the ball to the opponent's end zone. If you manage to get the ball into the end zone, you've scored a touchdown!

How long does a match last?

A typical American Football game lasts about 3 hours. The match is divided into four parts, each part lasting 15 minutes. There is a break between the second and third parts, this is called “halftime”.

Why would you want to see a match?

If you're looking for an exciting way to spend your weekend, an American Football match in New York is a great option. You can cheer on the teams, tackle the players and feel the thrill as the ball is shot to the end zone. It's a great way to experience an action-packed day!

The NFL Playoffs and the Super Bowl: A Brief Guide for Laymen

The Playoffs

The NFL season ends with the Playoffs, where the top two teams from each division compete for the chance to win the Super Bowl. The New York Giants and the New York Jets have both had their own successes, with the Giants winning the Super Bowl four times and the Jets winning the Super Bowl once. The New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers have both won more than five Super Bowls, with the Patriots winning the most with XNUMX.

The Superbowl

The Super Bowl is the ultimate competition in which the two remaining teams compete against each other for the title. The game is played on the first Sunday in February, and in 2014 New Jersey became the first cold weather state to host the Super Bowl at the outdoor MetLife Stadium. Normally the Super Bowl is played in a warmer state like Florida.

Halftime

Halftime during the Super Bowl is perhaps one of the most popular parts of the game. Not only are the intermission performances a great show, but companies pay millions for a 30-second timeslot during the commercials. The biggest pop stars perform during halftime, such as Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Beyonce and Lady Gaga.

The Commercials

The Super Bowl commercials are just as popular as the halftime performances. Companies pay millions for a 30-second timeslot during commercials, and rumors surrounding the performances and commercials have become part of the event, even internationally.

The NFL jersey numbering: a short guide

The basic rules

If you're an NFL fan, you know that each player wears a unique number. But what exactly do those numbers mean? Here's a quick guide to get you started.

1-19:

Quarterback, Kicker, Punter, Wide Receiver, Running Back

20-29:

Running Back, Corner Back, Safety

30-39:

Running Back, Corner Back, Safety

40-49:

Running Back, Tight End, Corner Back, Safety

50-59:

Offensive line, Defensive line, Linebacker

60-69:

Offensive line, Defensive line

70-79:

Offensive line, Defensive line

80-89:

Wide Receiver, Tight End

90-99:

Defensive line, Linebacker

Penalties

When you watch an NFL game, you see the referees often throw up a yellow penalty flag. But what exactly do these punishments mean? Here are some of the most common violations:

false start:

If an attacking player moves before the ball comes into play, it is a false start. As a penalty, the team gets 5 yards back.

offside:

If a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before play begins, it is an offside. As a penalty, the defense retreats 5 yards.

Holding company:

During a game, only the player in possession of the ball may be handled. Holding a player who is not in possession of the ball is called holding. As a penalty, the team gets 10 yards back.

Differences

Nfl Vs Rugby

Rugby and American Football are two sports that are often confused. But if you put the two side by side, the difference quickly becomes clear: a rugby ball is larger and rounder, while an American football is designed to throw forward. Rugby is played without protection, while American Football players are more heavily packed. There are also many differences in terms of the rules of the game. In rugby, there are 15 players on the field, while in American Football, there are 11 players. In rugby the ball is only thrown backwards, while in American football it is allowed to pass. In addition, American Football has the forward pass, which can advance the game as much as fifty or sixty yards at one time. In short: two different sports, two different ways of playing.

Nfl Vs College Football

The National Football League (NFL) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) are the most popular professional and amateur football organizations in the United States, respectively. The NFL has the highest average attendance of any sports league in the world, averaging 66.960 people per game during the 2011 season. Collegiate football ranks third in popularity in the US, behind baseball and professional football.

There are some important rule differences between NFL and college football. In the NFL, a receiver must be ten feet inside the lines to have a completed pass, while a player remains active until tackled or forced down by a member of the opposing team. The clock temporarily stops after a first down to allow the chain team to reset the chains. In college football, there is a two-minute warning, where the clock automatically stops when there are two minutes left in each half. In the NFL, a tie is played in sudden death, with the same rules as in the regular game. In college football, multiple overtime periods are played until there is a winner. Both teams get one possession from the opposing team's 25 yard line, with no game clock. The winner is the one who is in the lead after both possessions.

Nfl Vs Nba

The NFL and NBA are two different sports with different rules, but they both have the same goal: to become America's favorite pastime. But which of the two is best suited for that? To determine that, let's look at their earnings, salaries, viewing figures, visitor numbers and ratings.

The NFL has a much larger turnover than the NBA. Last season, the NFL made $14 billion, $900 million more than the previous season. The NBA earned $7.4 billion, an increase of 25% over the previous season. The NFL teams also earn more from sponsors. The NFL has made $1.32 billion from sponsors, while the NBA has made $1.12 billion. In terms of salaries, the NBA beat the NFL. The NBA players earn an average of $7.7 million per season, while the NFL players earn an average of $2.7 million per season. When it comes to viewership, attendance and ratings, the NFL has also beaten the NBA. The NFL has more viewers, more visitors and higher ratings than the NBA.

In short, the NFL is the most lucrative sports league in America right now. It has more revenue, more sponsors, lower salaries and more viewers than the NBA. When it comes to making money and conquering the world, the NFL leads the pack.

Conclusion

Now is the time to test your knowledge of American football. You now know how the game is played, and you can even get started.

But there's more than just the game itself, there's also the NFL draft which takes place every year.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of referees.eu is a content marketer, father and loves to write about all kinds of sports, and has also played a lot of sports himself for most of his life. Now since 2016, he and his team have been creating helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with their sports activities.