r/NFLNoobs • • Sep 21 '23

NFLNoobs FAQ

46 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 • • 2d ago

Weekly "What Team Should I Root For?" Thread

2 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 • • 4h ago

If you miss a field goal on 3rd down could you try again?

15 Upvotes

title


r/NFLNoobs • • 58m ago

When NFL Flag becomes its own big pro league, what’s its ceiling?

• Upvotes

would it fit the role the Arena Football League did? would the NFL in turn try to brand Arena Football as their own as its own off season league?


r/NFLNoobs • • 9h ago

Why are divisional games seemingly more prone to upsets?

11 Upvotes

Some of the biggest upsets this year have come from divisional games.

Week 4: Bills were strongly favored at home, and lost a close game to the Patriots, who got blown out by the Jaguars the week before. Browns Steelers was also somewhat of a shocker.

Week 5: Bears, touted as overdogs in Lambeau since a gazillion years ago, got obliterated by a seeming struggling Packers team. The Bears also lost to the Vikings in week 2 (yes I know that games weather conditions were not conducive to a strong passive game, but not even getting a touchdown???).

Last Season:

Week 6: Eagles get steamrolled by the Giants in MetLife, one of the few wins the Giants got during that season.

Week 10: The juggernaut Bills lose convincingly to a Dolphins team in Miami. Their first meeting on TNF that year was also close.

Knowing that winning divisional games carry so much weight in standings, do coaches save their best plays for those matchups? Or do players get the jitters and falter knowing how much divisional games matter?


r/NFLNoobs • • 4h ago

Why are defensive players circled in red?

2 Upvotes

It doesn't happen on ever play but every so often, I see one or two defensive players circled in red.

https://ibb.co/KpZ5S1dN


r/NFLNoobs • • 6h ago

Are there any stats over whether there’s an increase in injuries on Thursday night games?

3 Upvotes

It seems unfair that players are given a shorter turnover to recover, and I sometimes feel that the injuries I’ve witnessed on Thursday games wouldn’t have happened if the game were played three days later on Sunday.


r/NFLNoobs • • 58m ago

What do refs do between games and during the offseason?

• Upvotes

How do you become one and how much money do they get per game? Why are many old? They have a pretty good job to only work three hours a week for a season.


r/NFLNoobs • • 20h ago

Has anyone ever been able to sort out a defence as problematic as the Bills mid season?

9 Upvotes

The numbers aren’t great but there is talent in the setup. Is a defence like this possible to fix with good coaching or is it purely just that the personnel aren’t at the level?


r/NFLNoobs • • 16h ago

First NFL game best Seats

5 Upvotes

Best place to sit for my and my gf first NFL game?

Probably won’t be able to afford anything in Lower bowl except for behind the end zones ish. Upper bowl we can do wherever and whatever row


r/NFLNoobs • • 3h ago

Jameis Winston

0 Upvotes

Is Jameis Winston a HOFer if he wins three super bowls as a starting QB but never makes an all pro team? Would the Giants be able to trade Dart for a war chest of picks? Would Jameis still be a bust?


r/NFLNoobs • • 15h ago

Tickets help suggestion for Madrid game 8 november

2 Upvotes

Wasup folk, i decided i want to see my first NFL Game in Madrid this November 8th and looks like all the affordable tickets have been sold on the official NFL website, any suggestions where to get some decent seats ? I checked some reseller websites like viagogo or stubhub, some go for 250-300 eur for sections 100's...can i get scammed ? what would you guys recommend ? thanks


r/NFLNoobs • • 21h ago

49ers Injuries

4 Upvotes

49ers lead the league in players on IR - which players are most critical that are on IR for the 9ers and how do you know / find out when they’ll be back?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

What exactly is run/pass option and play action and are they the same thing?

12 Upvotes

By virtue of its name, I guess RPO means the QB has the option of either running or passing the ball. Doesn't this exist on every play if there are wide receivers and running backs on the field?

Also, is RPO the same thing as play action or is this something different?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

could a team run a functional normal offense if their wrs were for example Bowers, Mcbride and kelce, and their te is kittle? would this team be a good receiving team or would it not work

23 Upvotes

Just wanting to know if such a team is possible to succeed at nfl level and whether these tes can play wr full time


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Why are the playoffs decided by division standings rather than overall wins?

13 Upvotes

Starting to learn more about the NFL this year. the whole NFC NORTH and AFC North would beat the NFC south at this time if this was the case. I feel like that's fair? IDK does anyone know? also why don't afc play nfc teams more.


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

What's the anatomy of a trap game? 🪤

4 Upvotes

How bad do you have to be to be a "Trapper" team?

Or, good to be a "Trapee" team?

Does there need to be a specific sequence of events / schedule?

Has somebody come up with an equation?


r/NFLNoobs • • 2d ago

Why only qb throws the ball to other players?

86 Upvotes

I am new to nfl and American football and I know qb is the one who sets up the offense and strategy. But my question is , after the qb throws to a player , that player just try to push through the defence. Why?

For example, I will explain a hypothetical play. A qb gives ball to rb, then rb runs into the defence. When defence going to tackle, at that moment he passes the ball to nearby team player and get tackled. Then the player with the ball tried to push defence and passes to another player. In that time qb advances and takes the from their player and throws it to a wr or te who is alone without any defense in them. That will a simple touchdown.

Why do teams do not play like this? Is there a rule I dont know about?

EDIT: I DIDN'T KNEW YOU CAN'T THROW THE BALL FORWARD AFTER IT CROSSES THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. my entire concept idea was based on that you can throw the ball whenever you want. Hence , my idea will not work bcoz it is against the rules


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Who's fault are blocked kicks

15 Upvotes

This is sort of specific to the Bills Rams game, but I'm seeing a lot of people blaming the kicker for the Rams blocked kick, but isn't it the lineman's fault for letting the defender get in front of the ball?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Niners @ Falcons ticket advice

1 Upvotes

Hey guys not sure if there’s a better subreddit for this, please let me know if that’s the case just looking for some answers here we’ve never been to a game before

Me and my girlfriend are coming from Canada for our first falcons game, we only have plane tickets and hotels and didn’t buy seats yet.

Prices have shot up for this game - any idea if we should buy now or wait? Do they typically drop on game week or for this game is it not likely?
Any advice appreciated


r/NFLNoobs • • 2d ago

Why Do NFL Referees Sometimes Throw Their Hats?

53 Upvotes

Why do NFL referees sometimes throw their hats? Are they so pissed off that they throw their hats away? 🤣(Just kidding, but I genuinely want to know the reason.)


r/NFLNoobs • • 2d ago

How is the holder for kicks in college not down on every field goal attempt?

89 Upvotes

Their knee usually touches the ground which would be down in college. Is there some exception for kicking a field goal or are they not actually touching the ground?


r/NFLNoobs • • 2d ago

can a whole division make it to the playoffs?

151 Upvotes

I heard on google they technically can because of WILD CARD and the whole NFC north has won more games than lost.


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Need some advice

0 Upvotes

Hi, I'm Patrick from Delaware.

I'm new to football. Is it wrong to have two football teams? I keep getting called a bandwagon. Because I like the Bears and the Raiders.


r/NFLNoobs • • 2d ago

Are there different formations like in soccer for nfl?

6 Upvotes

I am new to nfl and American football. My doubt is,

  1. Can the position of players can be changed. For example, can the TE and WR switch positions and can the qb be positioned at an end of the field?

2.also,what is the difference between TE and WR. i know they catch the ball, then why they have different names 3.what is the difference between punter and kicker. Why some teams have 2 seperate players for this, they just kick the ball?