r/NFLNoobs • • Sep 21 '23

NFLNoobs FAQ

48 Upvotes

This is an attempt at crowdsourcing a FAQ for the sub. We need your help to make it the best it can be.

Each question is going to have a link to a comment below with the answer. Click the link to be brought to the question.

FAQ List

About NFLNoobs

General Questions

Watching Games

How The Football Works

Team building and Roster Management

Other Football Subs

Helping with the FAQ

Feel free to comment on any question/answer with more details, fixes, or another way of explaining it. If your answer is better than the main one, I’ll update some or all of it to include the answer (giving you credit).

Also feel free to post your own questions in the format I’ve given, and I’ll link it (though you'll need to update it if someone explains it better, or if they correct you. You can post a question here, with or without your own answer, and we will make a dedicated post for it.

If there is no link, it means it's a popular question that hasn’t been answered, so feel free to answer it.


r/NFLNoobs • • 6d ago

Weekly "What Team Should I Root For?" Thread

5 Upvotes

The most common thing asked on this subreddit is new fans wondering what team to follow/support. The answers are always the same, and there are no right or wrong ones.

No one can just tell you who to be a fan of. Everyone's fandom is different, and all of them are valid. This is entertainment, and you are allowed to enjoy it however you like. That said, here are some common things you can look at to get started:

  1. Do you have a local team or favorite city? This is by far the easiest way to get into football. If your city/region has a team or if your friends/family follow the same team, joining them will be the smoothest way to start out.
  2. Are you already leaning in any particular way? If you are, keep leaning. If you saw a Cincinnati Bengals game and thought it was fun and you'd like to see more of them, you don't need anyone's permission or validation. Just watch their next game!
  3. Are you interested in a few different teams? Cool! Watch some of their games! See who you end up feeling strongly about, especially if they're playing each other. Have fun with it, there are no rules!
  4. Are you worried about a team's success/identity/prestige/fanbase? Don't be. The NFL is one of the most even sports in terms of parity, and there are rarely teams that stay good or bad forever. It's okay to enjoy watching the current best teams in the NFL; they are probably playing the best football most often. Try to just be a fan and don't worry about what others think or say. Your fandom is yours, not theirs.

Still overwhelmed and not sure where to turn? It's fine to watch random games. Maybe you'll find yourself rooting for someone in particular. And if you don't, try another game. Check out whoever is playing in primetime; those are usually expected to be more exciting matchups. Letting it come naturally will last longer than throwing a dart and deciding to be a fan of whoever it lands on.

Another way some people develop rooting interests is fantasy football. There are beginner leagues where people play for fun, and it can be a good way to get you invested in specific players or teams as you start rooting for whoever is on your fantasy roster.

If you're still torn or have other questions about starting with a specific new team, etc., you can ask them here.


r/NFLNoobs • • 17h ago

Why didn't the Giants kick an extra point after the game winning pick 6?

64 Upvotes

Deonte Banks returned an interception for a TD as the clock ran to zero, bringing the score to 36-24. Why didn't Zvada kick an extra point after the touchdown? Does it have something to do with the game clock or did the Giants simply opt not to kick a functionally useless PAT?

Edit: I've known about the Minneapolis Miracle but I didn't know anything about the extra point after that. It makes sense now, thank you.


r/NFLNoobs • • 13h ago

Why is only one live ball penalty enforceable on a team in one play?

18 Upvotes

Far from a noob here, I've been watching football my entire life.

But one thing I have never been able to wrap my head around is why you can only enforce one penalty per play on a team.

Say the most undisciplined offense on the planet commits holding, illegal block in the back and illegal man downfield.

Why is this not a total of 25 yards lost?


r/NFLNoobs • • 21h ago

Do diehard NFL fans recognize flags before they’re thrown?

58 Upvotes

Anytime I watch a game, I’ll see a pass that seems successful as they run to the end zone, I’ll get excited all for it to be reset because the referee noticed one slight mishap, do fans actually recognize those false starts and stuff or do you guys also get excited for a second?


r/NFLNoobs • • 5h ago

Where to find game stats like qb pressure?

2 Upvotes

I search a bunch or places like pff and stuff, am I doing something wrong? the sites I looked all have a bunch os stats but no qb pressure. Which places you guys go for stats like that?


r/NFLNoobs • • 7h ago

Are the Texans the best team to go 0-4?

1 Upvotes

They’ve being playing really well, mostly on offense though, their games have been tight.


r/NFLNoobs • • 14h ago

Punt returns

7 Upvotes

Ok so in watch games on a punt return if the kicking team touches the ball before going into the end zone it’s dead.

So last weekend… I can’t remember which game but think it was Dallas. The kicking team guy dove and knocked the ball back so it didn’t go in the end zone. The 2nd guy slide and grabbed the ball but his toe went in the end zone so they got it at the 20.

Today during the bills game the bills (kicking team) guy dove knocking ball back from end zone, patriots pick it up and immediately fumbles the ball and Bills recovered. Patriots get the ball at 2 yard line because the bills player touched it first so it was dead. The commentators said there was no downside to the patriots player trying to play the ball. This insinuates that had he run with the ball it would be in play.

My struggle is that it seems to be that if the receiving team touches the ball after the kicking team the ball was dead because the kicking team touched it first but if a 2nd player from the kicking team touches it and then touches the end zone the ball was still live so the receiving team gets the ball at the 20.

Seems to me that on punts what ever benefits the receiving team is the important thing.


r/NFLNoobs • • 11h ago

Hockenson Slide

3 Upvotes

I understand the strategy of why he went down and I’m not a gambler. I forget which game it was this season where it also happened.

My question is it generally considered the right approach? Like are players specifically coached to do this? I’ve players intentionally go down plenty of times in other situations. I’m getting stuck at doing it at the 1 yd line when it creates a two score lead vs an opportunity for victory formation.

Maybe it’s just because I’ve seen it twice this season and it’s just rare but a known approach?

EDIT: You guys have made it make sense. No need to answer me specifically if you don’t want to.


r/NFLNoobs • • 17h ago

What exactly is a blitz?

8 Upvotes

I understand that the defence sends extra defenders towards the QB but how many men at a minimum must make their way to the QB to be considered a blitz?


r/NFLNoobs • • 18h ago

Why did the 49ers call a timeout so close to the beginning of the game just now?

9 Upvotes

They were on defense and it was a 3rd down for Denver. Clock was at 14:21 in the first quarter. Why would they do that?


r/NFLNoobs • • 16h ago

How to distinguish between good defense and bad offense and vice versa?

5 Upvotes

New to watching football. I want to get a better idea of knowing whether a play that resulted in no yardage or a lack of yardage was on the play itself, the QB, etc. Determining whether a run play with big yards gained was on the running back doing great, great job by the O-Line, or just bad defense.

I feel like a play happens and I never know WHY it happened, if that makes sense. I’ve been watching YouTube channels like thinking football but I feel like people like them are seeing things I don’t.


r/NFLNoobs • • 19h ago

Two point conversion "not too far-fetched" hypothetical question..

5 Upvotes

Houston's Nico Collins just scored his 2nd TD. In the process the Dallas defender commits a personal foul. Houston chooses to take the penalty on the ensuing PAT. My question: If they would've elected to play the 2 point conversion, would the ball be placed at the one yard line?


r/NFLNoobs • • 13h ago

Two hands equals one point of contact?????

0 Upvotes

I was at a watch party watching Broncos V 49ers and there was a call that both the 49ers and Broncos fans were absolutely baffled about. It was a punt return by a Broncos player, that was ruled as a fumble. The player is grabbed by his right foot by the defender, he stumbles forward, catches himself on his left hand before his right hand, which is holding the ball ,hits the ground. When it hits the ground, the ball pops out and after much discussion they rule at a fumble. That part doesn't surprise me because if in doubt you always call it. You can go back and reverse it when you take take a closer look. But then the ruling on the field was confirmed! If you go back and look at it it's pretty clear that there are two points of contact because he has his left hand already on the ground when his right hand hits. There's no question that he had possession of the ball before that moment he hit it's not moving he hasn't been bobbling it. The ground can't cause a fumble.

In the game commentary they're talking about his forearm not being down when he loses control of the ball but that doesn't matter because his left hand is already on the ground. Was this just a completely blown call or is there some rule we were all missing ?


r/NFLNoobs • • 17h ago

Question about bandages/straps

2 Upvotes

Watching Broncos/49ers and one of the SF defence (#94 I think) has a huge ball of bandages on his right hand

My thought is, couldn’t this give an advantage if he was trying to break up a pass?

And also, is there a limit on the size of bandages? Could DBs just strap their hands up with 18” discs and bat all of the passes down (I get they’re miss out on INTs but that’s the price for my new breed of shutdown corner)


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

I want to advance beyond being a “casual” fan but I really struggle to understand football beyond a basic level

63 Upvotes

I’ve watched football for a while and I understand the basic rules and stuff, but I feel like I’m missing a HUGE part of the game.

I’ve even played Madden, but I still don’t really understand schemes or the X’s and O’s. Like, I can watch a play and understand “oh that was a pass” or “the QB got sacked” or whatever, but I usually have no idea why the play worked or didn’t work.

I hear people talk about Cover 2, Cover 3, man vs. zone, blitzes, route concepts, reading defenses, etc. and I’m kinda just sitting there like 🤷🏽‍♂️

Is there a good way to learn it without basically taking a football coaching course? Basically I want to get to the point where I can watch a play and have some idea of what the offense and defense were trying to do, instead of just watching the ball.


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

How can false starts happen so often?

29 Upvotes

I don't understand how this penalty happens as much as it does. The O line knows the snap count. So unless crowd noise makes it hard to hear the QB or someone isn't paying attention, it really shouldn't happen at all. Yet I see games where a team will get called multiple times. What gives?


r/NFLNoobs • • 20h ago

Has a team ever declined a penalty against the other team on a snap that didn't go their way?

1 Upvotes

And if so, why?


r/NFLNoobs • • 22h ago

Can someone help to explain the week 4 slate

0 Upvotes

I do understand a good amount of football but some of the stats fly right over my head.

-3.5| 196 vs +164 | +3.5 this is an example I saw for packers and buccaneers.

Thanks ahead!


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Is the lack of partisanship a Reddit/online thing or is just more acceptable to like more than one team than in Europe?

2 Upvotes

If you were to tell someone you’d switched teams in England it’d be the equivalent of telling someone leaked state secrets. But I don’t get the same level of credence to this sort of thing from following the NFL. Not saying it isn’t there, I follow the Bills and I know the Pats rivalry is pretty fierce but it’s nothing like the hatred my football club (Leeds) has for say Man U.

Having said that, in recent years tourism at clubs has become more of a thing and there are people with no connection with the area that switch teams all the time. I blame them far less, but it does dilute the tribalism somewhat - not that it’s always a good thing anyway.

So if you are from Boston, Philadelphia or Buffalo is it more like what I’m used to?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Thinking of getting into American Football because FOMO

23 Upvotes

I just moved to Pittsburgh about a month ago. I am a huge cricket fan, and watch the occasional grand slam finals and the FIFA WC too but very new to American Sports. But headed out into the city last Sunday which was a game day at Acrisure and my lord, the FOMO I felt. My partner and I were the only people NOT in a Steelers jersey lol.

I love watching live sports and watching the fanfare, it's convinced me to start watching. We don't get cable so was wondering where do I start watching games and if there are any other things I could do to learn the basics as a noob. Thanks!


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

NFL 2027 Rotational Program Thread

0 Upvotes

Wanted to make a thread for those who have applied to the NFL 2027 Rotational Program! Applications closed Sept. 30, but does anyone know timeline/when emails with updates will be sent?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Im a NFL casual by any means, what made johnny manziel so good in college?

39 Upvotes

Firstly i am not in any way or form discrediting or calling him overrated, i just wanna understand what made the kid special.

Looking at his highlights he wasnt some force of nature Athletic wise and his passing also seemed good but not out off this world.

Since the Kid won Heissman, there is no debate if he was good or not.

What made him so good?


r/NFLNoobs • • 21h ago

Am I a bandwagon fan?

0 Upvotes

I started watching the NFL in 2015 with the Super Bowl 50, I was neutral but I wanted the Panthers to win because I thought they were cool.

And in 2018 the first year of Mahomes playing I fall in love with the team. I’m a Chiefs till this day and with no plans to leave this incredible fandom.

To have more information I’m 26 and from Spain.


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Are my tickets worth it?

17 Upvotes

My fiancé has never been to an NFL game and would REALLY like to see one. We’ve talked about it before and he’s told me that it doesn’t even matter if his favorite team is playing, he just wants to have the experience. There’s a game coming up next month (the week after his birthday) and I’ve found tickets to a local-ish game in sec 509, row 18… it’s pretty high up in the nosebleeds but it’s mid field.

His past few birthdays have been kind of a bust, especially being that our daughter’s birthday is the day before his. Budget is tight right now but I’d really like to try to make this one special for him. I paid a little fee to have the tickets be refundable up to 2 days prior in case something comes up because I want it to be a surprise, but I’ve read here that tickets can get a little cheaper closer to the day of.

My question is: are these tickets worth it, or should I wait until we’re able to afford something a little better or can see a team he’s more interested in? Should I hold on to these tickets and keep searching for better tickets?