ELI5- Can someone explain the basics of NFL football rules and positions?

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Hey so I’m am adult woman who was not allowed to ask questions about sports growing up so I thought I hated them for a long time. This is my second season as a NFL viewer and I get so confused sometimes.

There is a new dynamic kickoff rule and I have googled it but still have no idea what it means.

Yesterday The Lions and The Rams went into OT and I thought the refs said that both teams would have a chance to have possession of the ball but The Lions scored a TD and won the game.

I understand that offense is the team with possession of the ball and their QB is on the field and defense is trying to stop them from scoring but I don’t understand the other positions. If there is an injury can a defensive player play on offense or is that a big no no?

I just want to watch a game without constantly having to Google what’s going on.

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Anonymous 0 Comments

> I understand that offense is the team with possession of the ball and their QB is on the field and defense is trying to stop them from scoring but I don’t understand the other positions. If there is an injury can a defensive player play on offense or is that a big no no?

Each side has 11 players on the field.

Offense typically has 1QB, 5 offensive linemen (2 tackles on outside, 2 guards, and a center), a running back, 3 wide receivers, and a tight end. Used to see more 2 running back sets but less common now. Sometimes might see 2 wide receivers and 2 tight ends. Tight ends are a sort of hybrid that can be a blocker like offensive line or a receiver usually for shorter yard plays.

Defense has 3 rows of defenders — down linemen, linebackers, and secondary. Some teams have 3 down linemen and 4 linebackers, others flips that with 4 up front and 3 linebackers. Secondary are the cornerbacks and safeties who guard receivers.

Players can be swapped out play by play, whether injury or based on what play the team wants to run/what the defense expects the offense to run. Players rarely play offense and defense — the rosters have 53 players with 22 starters between offense and defense (also 3 special teams players with kicker punter, long snapper), so there are reserves for all positions to go in.

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