It’s almost that time of the year…that time when we consume endless wings, chips and dip, and watch lots (and lots) of football.
As we eagerly anticipate the Super Bowl, make sure you’re up to speed with the NFL. First things first, you should know that the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons are playing to win the championship. But if you’re still unsure of typical football jargon, we’ve got you covered.
Below are key football terms you might hear referees and/or your friends mention this Sunday. So either keep this list handy or study up — because it’s time to keep track of those touchdowns.
Turnover on downs. A turnover on downs occurs when the offense fails to get a first down and forfeits possession of the ball to the other team.
Three and out. A “three-and-out” is when there’s a turnover on downs without the offense gaining a single first down.
3rd and 8. This means it’s third down with eight yards to go to the first down line. The first number indicates which down it is, and the second number tells how many yards until the next first down.
DB. DB stands for defensive back. Safeties and cornerbacks are all considered DBs.
O-line, D-line. O-line is the offensive line, and D-line is the defensive line. If you’re not sure who they are, just remember that these are the biggest guys on the field.
The Box. The Box is an imaginary area on the defensive side of the field around 5 yards deep of the offensive line. A defense will “stack the box” in anticipation of a run play.
Backfield. The backfield is the space immediately behind the offensive line. This is where the quarterback (QB) awaits the ball. The running back (RB) is also in the backfield with the QB, and a fullback (FB) might be as well. An “empty backfield” is when the quarterback is the only person standing in the backfield.
Blitz. A blitz is when the defense sends additional players with the D-line to sack the quarterback.
Reversing the field. A ball carrier “reverses the field” when he is running one direction and then cuts back to run the other way.
Under Center. The QB is “under center” when he is directly behind the center. You’ll notice this is happening when two of the players are standing uncomfortably close to each other.
Fair Catch. A punt returner can call a fair catch; if he does, that means the play is dead at the spot he catches the punt.
2-minute drill. This is when the offense has two minutes, or less, to work with, so the rate of play is faster as they’re rushing to score in under two minutes.
Point after Touchdown (PAT). A touchdown is worth six points, and the team has the option to kick a field goal or run another play (go for two). A successful field goal is worth one point and scoring on another play counts as two points.
Pick six. An interception, or a pick, is when the defense catches the ball. A pick six is when the defensive player intercepts the pass and runs it back for a touchdown.
xx, The FabFitFun Team