When you're watching a football game, it seems that the clock is constantly stopping. Well, it is! This is a game of strategy and strength: the teams need time to think (or rest) and the referees need time to catch up with what is going on.
Each team has two groups of players: offense (in charge of scoring; 11 men) and defense (in charge of keeping other team from scoring; 11 men). When one teams offense is on the field, the opposing team's defense is on the field.
Every game split into 4 quarters (15 minutes long), with a Halftime break (12 minutes). However because the game clock is stopped constantly throughout the game, the average NFL football game lasts over 3 hours.
Depending on the position, the player may require different equipment. For example, you may see the QB or receivers have towels attached to their uniform to dry their hands. WR might have sun shades to prevent glare downfield when they're trying to catch the ball. Also, positions that are regularly tackling have heavier pads and shoulder/neck braces to protect them while other positions barely wear pads because it would slow them down.
Look at the scoreboard on the screen. Next to the quarter and time left, it shows the down and how many yards the team needs for a first down. For example, 2nd & 11 means it's the 2nd down (out of 4) and the team needs to gain 11 yards for a new 1st down.
Eye black is a grease applied under the eyes to reduce glare. It is often used by football, baseball, and lacrosse players, where sunlight or stadium lights can impair vision of an airborne ball. It is a form of functional makeup or war paint.
The American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC) make up the NFL. They contain 16 teams each, for 32 teams in all. The best team from each conference meets at the Super Bowl.
Divisions
Each conference is divided into four divisions (North, East, South, West) of four teams. A team with the best record in its division moves on to the Playoffs (difficult if you have strong teams in your division). Other teams can get in with a "Wild Card" invitation.
Who plays who?
Each year, teams play the other three teams in their division twice (6 games), then all four teams from another division once. The remaining games are against teams with similar records from the previous year, which gives weaker teams a better chance at improving.
Wild Card teams
Typically the teams with the best remaining records after the division winners (Standing #5 & #6).
Standing
A team's ranking based on its record for the season.
What stops the game clock?
