NFL guide: rules, scoring and key terms explained | OneFootball

The regular season of the NFL starts this Thursday and the interest of the Brazilian public is growing. With the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs this Friday in São Paulo, at the Neo Química Arena, the search to know the basic rules of the sport is growing on the internet.

Thus, Gazeta Esportiva has prepared a basic but effective guide for beginners interested in understanding how the sport of the oval ball works, considered the most popular of North American sports.

Below, the formats of the field, the rules, scoring system, and even terms used in American football are explained. See below:

Field

The American football field has the same grass used in traditional football. However, the boundaries are different. In the NFL, the field is also rectangular, but with lines, spaced five yards apart.

In addition, the American football field is 100 yards long, and at the end of each side of the field, there are the end zones (Touchdown zone) with a Goal Post, the yellow Y-shaped crossbar. For comparison, a yard is equivalent to 0.914 meters.

NFL field being prepared at Neo Química Arena for this Friday's game. (Photo: José Manoel Idalgo / Corinthians Agency)

Rules

In American football, basically, it will always be one team attacking against a team that is defending. The attacking team must carry the ball to the opposing team's end zone. When this action happens, it is called a touchdown, the highest score in the sport.

In turn, the opposing team must prevent this from happening, not allowing the attacking team to gain yards and reach their end zone.

Photo: Allan Dranberg / Alamy Stock Photo

The attacking team has up to four plays, called downs, to cover at least ten yards. This can be done on the ground (running) or in the air (passing). If successful, that team gets a first down, that is, four more attempts to advance another ten yards, and so on until they try to score the touchdown. If the team fails to advance these ten yards in up to four chances, they lose possession of the ball, which goes to the opponent to have their chance to attack.

The markings like “1st and 10”, “2nd and 8”, mean: the first number is the down (from 1 to 4), and the second is how many yards are still needed to achieve the next first down. Example: 2nd and 8 means it's the second down and the team still needs to advance 8 yards.

When a team scores a touchdown, they can still score an extra point by kicking the ball between the Y of the goal post. Or, depending on the occasion, the team can try a two-point conversion, where they have one play to try to reach the end zone again.

Photo: Cal Sport Media / Alamy Stock Photo

Usually, if a team fails to advance the minimum ten yards in up to three plays, the fourth play is used to return the ball to the opponent, through a punt.

Depending on the moment of the match, a team can risk the fourth down, but if they lose the ball, they give it back to the opponent from that point on the field. If the goal post is close enough, the team can try the field goal through a kick.

Finally, each team has 53 players, divided into attack teams, defense, and specialists. However, on the field, it will always be 11 against 11.

Scores

Duration

In American football, the game is played in four periods (quarters), each one with 15 minutes. Whenever there is a foul or the ball goes out of play, the clock stops. Each team has a timeout to stop the clock. A match usually lasts about 3 hours.

Essential terms explained

1. Touchdown

✅ The main way to score. The player takes the ball to the opposing endzone. Worth six points.

2. Field Goal

✅ When the team kicks the ball between the posts. Worth three points.

3. Extra Point / Two-Point Conversion

✅ After the touchdown, the team can kick for an extra point or try a short play for two more points.

4. Downs

✅ Each team has four attempts (downs) to advance 10 yards. If successful, they gain another 4 attempts.

5. Quarterback (QB)

✅ The most important player, responsible for throwing the ball or commanding offensive plays.

6. End Zone

✅ The final area of the field where touchdowns occur.

7. Fumble

✅ When the player loses possession of the ball during a play.

8. Interception

✅ When the defense intercepts a pass from the opposing quarterback.

9. Sack

✅ When the quarterback is taken down by the defense before throwing the ball.

10. Time-out

✅ Strategic pause requested by the coach, usually used to organize decisive plays.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.