Downs, first downs, touchdowns: NFL basics in five minutes
Sep 6, 2026 · 21:25
Four attempts to gain ten yards - understand that one sentence and the whole sport makes sense.
American football looks chaotic at first, yet everything is built around a single basic rule.
The four attempts
The attacking team has four attempts - downs - to advance ten yards. If they succeed, they get a new first down and the count starts again. If they fail, the ball goes to the opponent from where the drive stalled.
Why kick on fourth down?
Because losing the ball in your own half can be catastrophic. Most teams therefore punt on fourth down, kicking the ball as far as possible so the opponent starts from a poor position. The alternative is a field goal attempt if they are already close enough.
The points
A touchdown is worth six points, the extra kick afterwards adds one, and a two-point conversion from short range is worth two. A field goal is three points, and a safety - when the defence tackles the ball carrier in his own end zone - is worth two, with the defending team also receiving the ball.
The clock
A game is four quarters of fifteen minutes, but the clock stops often: incomplete passes, players going out of bounds, scores and timeouts all halt it. That is why a match lasts more than three hours, and why clock management at the end has become a discipline in itself.