NFL Basics: How Football Works
New to American football? Test yourself on downs, scoring, positions, and the essential rules every NFL fan should know.
8 questions · beginner difficulty · free sample below, full quiz free with a SquizPlay account.
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Question 1: How many points is a touchdown worth in the NFL?
- 3
- 6
- 7
- 2
Answer: 6
Answer explained: A touchdown is worth 6 points. The scoring team then attempts an extra point kick (1) or a two-point conversion (2), which is why 7 is a common but incorrect answer.
Source: NFL Rulebook, Rule 11 (Scoring); NFL.com football operations.
Question 2: How many downs does an offense get to gain 10 yards?
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 2
Answer: 4
Answer explained: The offense has four downs to gain 10 yards. Gaining them earns a fresh set of downs; teams usually punt or kick on fourth down if short.
Source: NFL Rulebook, Rule 7 (Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Scrimmage).
Question 3: How long is an NFL regulation game?
- Four 15-minute quarters
- Two 30-minute halves with no quarters
- Three 20-minute periods
- Four 12-minute quarters
Answer: Four 15-minute quarters
Answer explained: NFL games are played in four 15-minute quarters (60 minutes total), with a halftime break after the second quarter. High school football uses 12-minute quarters.
Source: NFL Rulebook, Rule 4 (Game Timing).
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