NFL Questions and Answers

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the NFL, including its history, teams, rules, schedule, playoffs, Super Bowl, NFL Draft, players and more.

Whether you are new to American football or a longtime NFL fan, this NFL FAQ explains how the National Football League works and provides useful information about professional football in the United States.

If you have a question about the NFL that is not answered here, feel free to leave it in the comments and let us know what you would like us to explain.

NFL Basics

What does NFL stand for?

NFL stands for National Football League, the professional American football league in the United States.

What is the NFL?

The National Football League (NFL) is the highest level of professional American football in the United States. The league consists of 32 teams divided between the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC).

When was the NFL created?

The organization that became the NFL was founded on September 17, 1920, in Canton, Ohio, as the American Professional Football Association (APFA). It changed its name to the National Football League in 1922.

How many teams are in the NFL?

The NFL has 32 teams. There are 16 teams in the AFC and 16 teams in the NFC.

How many divisions are in the NFL?

The NFL has eight divisions. The AFC and NFC each have four divisions: North, South, East and West. Each division has four teams.

How is the NFL structured?

The NFL is divided into two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).

Each conference has four divisions: North, South, East and West. Each division contains four teams.

During the regular season, teams compete for division titles and playoff positions. The best teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs, which determine the AFC and NFC champions. Those two teams meet in the Super Bowl.

NFL Regular Season

How many games are in an NFL regular season?

Each NFL team plays 17 regular-season games over an 18-week schedule.

How many weeks are in an NFL regular season?

The NFL regular season lasts 18 weeks. Each team plays 17 games and has one bye week.

What is a bye week in the NFL?

A bye week is a week during the regular season when an NFL team does not play a game. Every team receives one bye week during the regular season.

What days are NFL games played?

NFL games are primarily played on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays. Some games are also scheduled on Saturdays late in the regular season.

How long is an NFL game?

An NFL game consists of four 15-minute quarters, for 60 minutes of scheduled playing time. In reality, games normally take considerably longer because of timeouts, stoppages, reviews, injuries and commercial breaks.

How many games does an NFL team play at home?

An NFL team normally plays either eight or nine regular-season home games, depending on the schedule for that season.

How is the NFL schedule determined?

The NFL schedule is determined using a formula that includes division matchups, conference rotation, previous-season standings and games against teams from other divisions and conferences.

The league then determines the dates and times for individual games.

NFL Playoffs

How many teams make the NFL playoffs?

Fourteen teams qualify for the NFL playoffs: seven teams from the AFC and seven teams from the NFC.

How do the NFL playoffs work?

The NFL playoffs use a single-elimination format.

Seven teams from each conference qualify: four division winners and three wild-card teams.

The No. 1 seed in each conference receives a first-round bye. The remaining teams compete in the Wild Card round, followed by the Divisional Round and the Conference Championship Game.

The AFC champion and NFC champion then meet in the Super Bowl.

How many teams make the NFL playoffs from each conference?

Seven teams from the AFC and seven teams from the NFC qualify for the playoffs, for a total of 14 teams.

What is a wild-card team in the NFL?

A wild-card team is an NFL team that qualifies for the playoffs without winning its division.

Three wild-card teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.

What is an NFL playoff seed?

A playoff seed is a team’s position in the postseason standings. The seven playoff teams in each conference are seeded from No. 1 through No. 7.

What is the NFL Wild Card round?

The Wild Card round is the first round of the NFL playoffs. The No. 1 seed in each conference receives a bye, while the other six teams in each conference play three games.

What is the NFL Divisional Round?

The Divisional Round is the second round of the NFL playoffs. The four remaining teams in each conference compete for a place in the Conference Championship Game.

What is the AFC Championship Game?

The AFC Championship Game determines the champion of the American Football Conference. The winner advances to the Super Bowl.

What is the NFC Championship Game?

The NFC Championship Game determines the champion of the National Football Conference. The winner advances to the Super Bowl.

How many games are in the NFL playoffs?

There are 13 postseason games in total: six Wild Card games, four Divisional Round games, two Conference Championship Games and the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl

What is the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl is the NFL championship game played between the winners of the AFC and NFC. It determines the league champion at the end of the season.

When is the Super Bowl played?

The Super Bowl is normally played in February, following the NFL regular season and playoffs.

Where is the Super Bowl played?

The Super Bowl is played at a venue selected by the NFL. The location changes from year to year.

Who plays in the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl is played between the AFC champion and the NFC champion.

How many teams play in the Super Bowl?

Two teams play in the Super Bowl: the champion of the AFC and the champion of the NFC.

What trophy does the Super Bowl winner receive?

The Super Bowl champion receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

NFL Teams and Players

How many players can an NFL team have?

An NFL team can have a 53-player active/inactive roster during the regular season. Teams can also have players on their practice squad.

How many players are active on game day in the NFL?

The game-day active roster is generally limited to 48 players when a team meets the league’s requirements regarding offensive linemen.

What is an NFL practice squad?

An NFL practice squad is a group of players who practice with a team but are not normally part of its active game-day roster. Practice squad players can be elevated to the active roster under NFL rules.

What positions are there in American football?

Common NFL positions include quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive lineman, defensive lineman, linebacker, cornerback and safety.

Teams also have specialists such as kickers, punters and long snappers.

What is a quarterback?

The quarterback, commonly abbreviated as QB, is the player who generally directs the offense and handles the ball at the beginning of most offensive plays.

The quarterback can throw passes, hand the ball to another player or run with it.

What is a running back?

A running back is an offensive player who primarily carries the football on rushing plays. Running backs can also catch passes and block.

What is a wide receiver?

A wide receiver is an offensive player whose primary role is to catch passes from the quarterback.

What is a tight end?

A tight end is an offensive player who can contribute both as a receiver and a blocker.

What is a linebacker?

A linebacker is a defensive player who can be responsible for stopping the run, rushing the quarterback, covering receivers and tight ends, and performing other defensive assignments.

What is a cornerback?

A cornerback is a defensive back who primarily covers opposing receivers and helps defend against passing plays.

What is a safety?

A safety is a defensive back who generally plays deeper in the defensive formation and helps defend against passes and long plays.

The two traditional safety positions are free safety and strong safety.

NFL Rules and Scoring

How does scoring work in the NFL?

NFL teams can score in several ways.

A touchdown is worth six points, a successful extra-point kick is worth one point, a successful two-point conversion is worth two points, a field goal is worth three points and a safety is worth two points.

How many points is a touchdown worth?

A touchdown is worth six points.

How many points is a field goal worth?

A successful field goal is worth three points.

How many points is a safety worth?

A safety is worth two points.

How many points is an extra point worth?

A successful extra-point kick is worth one point.

How many points is a two-point conversion worth?

A successful two-point conversion is worth two points.

What is a first down in football?

A first down is awarded when the offense gains the required yardage or otherwise achieves a first down under the rules.

In most situations, an NFL team has four downs to gain 10 yards and earn a new first down.

How many downs does an NFL team have?

An offense normally has four downs to gain the necessary yardage for a first down.

If the team fails to gain the required yardage and does not otherwise retain possession, the other team gains possession.

What is a touchdown?

A touchdown is scored when a player carries the ball into the opponent’s end zone or catches the ball in the end zone while satisfying the NFL’s rules for possession and scoring.

What is an interception in the NFL?

An interception occurs when a defensive player catches a forward pass intended for an offensive player, resulting in a change of possession.

What is a fumble in the NFL?

A fumble occurs when a player loses possession of the ball after gaining possession, provided the play is not otherwise ruled dead.

A fumbled ball can potentially be recovered by either team.

What is a sack in the NFL?

A sack occurs when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage before the quarterback can complete a forward pass or otherwise advance the play.

What is a turnover?

A turnover occurs when the offense loses possession of the football to the defense, most commonly through an interception or fumble.

How does NFL overtime work?

NFL overtime uses a modified sudden-death system.

In both the regular season and postseason, both teams must have an opportunity to possess the ball, subject to specific exceptions in the rules.

Regular-season overtime consists of a 10-minute period. If the game remains tied when the period ends, the regular-season game ends in a tie.

Postseason overtime uses 15-minute periods and continues until there is a winner.

NFL Draft

What is the NFL Draft?

The NFL Draft is the league’s annual player selection event. NFL teams use their Draft selections to add eligible college football players and other eligible prospects to their rosters.

When is the NFL Draft held?

The NFL Draft is normally held in April and takes place over three days.

The location changes from year to year.

How many rounds are in the NFL Draft?

The NFL Draft consists of seven rounds.

Each of the NFL’s 32 teams is generally assigned one selection in each round, although trades, compensatory selections and other rules can change the number and order of picks.

Who gets the first pick in the NFL Draft?

The team with the worst regular-season record generally receives the first overall selection.

However, the pick can be traded to another team.

How is the NFL Draft order determined?

The Draft order is primarily based on the previous season’s results.

Teams that did not qualify for the playoffs generally select first, followed by playoff teams according to how far they advanced in the postseason.

The Super Bowl champion has the final pick in each round, barring trades.

Can NFL teams trade Draft picks?

Yes. NFL teams can trade Draft selections with other teams.

Trades can involve current or future Draft picks and can also involve NFL players.

Why is the first pick in the NFL Draft important?

The first overall pick gives a team the opportunity to select first among eligible prospects.

Teams may use the selection to address an important roster need or acquire a player they believe can have a major impact.

Who is eligible for the NFL Draft?

Players generally must be out of high school for at least three years and must have used up their college eligibility before the start of the next college football season.

Certain underclassmen can request special eligibility to enter the Draft early.

NFL Jersey Numbers

What do NFL jersey numbers mean?

NFL jersey numbers are assigned according to league rules and are generally associated with a player’s position.

The permitted number ranges vary by position and can change when the league modifies its rules.

Can NFL players wear number 0?

Yes. NFL players can wear the number 0 under the league’s current jersey-number rules.

The number 0 became available to NFL players again in 2023.

Pro Bowl Games

What are the Pro Bowl Games?

The Pro Bowl Games are an NFL event featuring many of the league’s top players.

The event can include skills competitions and flag football, with the format subject to change from year to year.

Who plays in the Pro Bowl Games?

Players selected from the AFC and NFC participate in the Pro Bowl Games.

The selection process and event format can vary from year to year.

Where are the Pro Bowl Games played?

The location of the Pro Bowl Games can change from year to year.

The NFL selects the host location and announces the schedule for each edition.

NFL Free Agency and Contracts

What is NFL free agency?

NFL free agency is the period when eligible players can negotiate and sign contracts with teams other than their previous team, subject to the league’s rules.

When does NFL free agency begin?

NFL free agency normally begins in March, although the league establishes specific dates for the negotiation period and the start of the new league year.

What is the NFL salary cap?

The NFL salary cap is the limit on the amount of money a team can generally allocate to player contracts under the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

The salary cap is adjusted each year.

What is the NFL salary cap in 2026?

The NFL salary cap for the 2026 season is $301.2 million per team.

What is the franchise tag in the NFL?

The franchise tag is a mechanism that allows an NFL team to retain certain rights to an eligible player for a season under specific league rules and compensation requirements.

Watching the NFL

Where can I watch NFL games?

NFL games are available through different television networks and streaming services depending on the country, game and current broadcasting rights.

Where can I watch NFL games in Mexico?

NFL games in Mexico are available through several television and streaming platforms.

NFL Game Pass is available through DAZN in Mexico. TUDN, ESPN, Fox Sports and Sky also offer NFL games or packages, depending on the game and current broadcasting rights.

What is NFL Game Pass?

NFL Game Pass is the NFL’s international subscription service for watching NFL games and other league content.

Availability and distribution can vary by country.

Where can I watch the Super Bowl in Mexico?

The Super Bowl is available through the broadcasters and streaming platforms that hold the relevant NFL rights in Mexico.

Because broadcasting agreements can change, viewers should check the current schedule and availability for each season.

Can I watch NFL games online?

Yes. NFL games can be available through official streaming services and other authorized platforms, depending on the game, country and broadcasting rights.

NFL in the United States

Who broadcasts NFL games in the United States?

NFL games are distributed through several television networks and streaming platforms, depending on the game and current broadcasting agreements.

Major NFL broadcasters include CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN and NFL Network, while streaming platforms also carry selected games.

Can I watch NFL games without cable?

Yes. Depending on the game and location, NFL games can be watched through authorized streaming services and other digital platforms without a traditional cable subscription.

American Football

Is American football the most popular sport in the United States?

American football is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and the NFL is the country’s highest-level professional American football league.

Popularity rankings can vary depending on the survey, methodology and year.

What is the difference between American football and soccer?

American football and association football, commonly called soccer in the United States, are different sports with different rules, equipment, playing fields and scoring systems.

American football is played primarily with an oval-shaped ball and includes plays involving passing, running and tackling. Soccer is played primarily with a round ball and generally does not allow outfield players to use their hands.

NFL Teams and Canada

Why doesn’t Canada have an NFL team?

Canada has its own professional football league, the Canadian Football League (CFL), which has different rules and a separate competition structure from the NFL.

The NFL and CFL are separate leagues, and the NFL does not currently have a permanent franchise in Canada.

Has the NFL played games in Canada?

Yes. The NFL has played regular-season games in Canada.

The Buffalo Bills have played games in Toronto as part of the NFL’s international efforts.

NFL History

What was the NFL originally called?

The organization that became the NFL was originally called the American Professional Football Association (APFA).

Where was the NFL founded?

The league was founded in Canton, Ohio, in 1920.

When did the NFL change its name?

The American Professional Football Association changed its name to the National Football League in 1922.

When did the NFL and AFL merge?

The NFL and American Football League (AFL) agreed to merge in 1966, with the merger becoming effective in 1970.

The merger helped create the modern structure of the NFL and led to the AFC and NFC becoming the league’s two conferences.

NFL Terminology

What does AFC mean in the NFL?

AFC stands for American Football Conference. It is one of the two conferences that make up the NFL.

What does NFC mean in the NFL?

NFC stands for National Football Conference. It is one of the two conferences that make up the NFL.

What does QB mean in football?

QB is short for quarterback, the offensive position generally responsible for directing the offense and handling the ball at the start of most offensive plays.

What does RB mean in football?

RB is short for running back, an offensive position primarily associated with running the football and also contributing as a receiver and blocker.

What does WR mean in football?

WR is short for wide receiver, an offensive position primarily responsible for running receiving routes and catching passes.

What does TE mean in football?

TE is short for tight end, an offensive position that combines receiving and blocking responsibilities.

What does TD mean in football?

TD stands for touchdown. A touchdown is worth six points.

What does FG mean in football?

FG stands for field goal. A successful field goal is worth three points.

What does INT mean in football?

INT usually stands for interception, when a defensive player catches a forward pass intended for an offensive player.

What does MVP mean in the NFL?

MVP stands for Most Valuable Player. The award recognizes the player judged to have been the most valuable during a particular NFL season.

NFL Frequently Asked Questions

The NFL is one of the most followed professional sports leagues in the United States and has a large international fan base.

Its rules, schedule, teams, players and postseason format can change over time, so some details may be updated from season to season.

Check NFL Total for the latest NFL news, scores, analysis, team updates, player news, game highlights and other coverage throughout the season.

If you have another NFL question, leave it in the comments and let us know what you would like to see explained.