American Football: A Short Guide

March 6, 2023

American football is the most popular sport in the US. There are many facts about the sport you will learn in our guide.

American Football: A Short Guide

American football is the most popular sport in the US, with millions of fans tuned in every game day. The sport originated in America as a hybrid between Rugby and Soccer. American football was designed by Walter Camp, regarded as the sport’s father. There are many ways for fans to enjoy this beautiful game, as fantasy leagues, Sunday leagues, and other activities keep fans occupied and involved with the sport. In addition, sites like Buaksib.com allow users to follow the live score of their favorite team on game days. Are you new to American football? Here is a short guide to get you up to speed.

How is American Football Played?

American Football is played with a team of 11 players and 4 substitutes. Therefore, each team has 15 players for every game. The sport aims to move the ball from your half of the field to the end of the field through passing and running. The defending team attempts to stop the offensive team’s plays and take the ball for themselves. Goals are scored by reaching the opposing team’s end of the field for a touchdown or kicking the ball through the goalposts. At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.

The football field is demarcated with horizontal lines drawn every 5 yards. The lines are numbered in multiples of 10 and are positioned 12 yards from the sidelines. Two vertical lines run down the center of the field. These lines are known as the line of scrimmage. This line is in the center of the field, where both the offensive and defensive teams take possession of the ball.

Each game lasts for 1 hour with 4 quarters of 15 minutes each. There is a 2-minute break at the end of every quarter and a 12-minute break at the end of the first half (after the first 2 quarters). When there is a tie at the end of regular time, there is a 15-minute overtime. The team that scores the first point in overtime wins the game. A coin toss determines the team that attacks first in overtime.

Where is American Football Played?

Although it originated in America, there are different countries where the sport is played. Australia, Japan, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Canada are some countries outside the US where the sport is popular. Around 40 countries where the sport is popular, and they sometimes have more than one league running concurrently.

The National Football League (NFL) is the most popular American Football league in the US. There is also the UFL (United Football League) and the Regional Football League (RFL). These leagues are not as popular as the NFL, which attracts over 100 million viewers for its biggest event, the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl is the league finals; the winners are crowned champions. A regular season of the NFL runs for 18 weeks, culminating in the Super Bowl and a rest period before the next season begins. The Super Bowl began in 1966 when it replaced the NFL championship game. It has been hosted on the second Sunday of every February since its inception.

How Many Teams are in the NFL

There are currently 32 teams in the NFL. The teams are divided into two conferences with 16 teams each. Each conference has four geographic divisions: North, East, South, and West. Here is a breakdown of each conference and division

The National Football Conference

North

Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Green Bay Packers

South

Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

East

Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Commanders

West

Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks

The American Football Conference

North

Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland Browns

South

Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars

East

Miami Dolphins
Buffalo Bills
New England Patriots
New York Jets

West

Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers

Conclusion

American football is a great sport that millions around the world enjoy. If you are trying to learn a thing or two about the sport, our guide is here for you. Get up to speed and start supporting your favorite team today.