Football Zebras

USFL Rules School: What rules differ from the NFL?

by Ben Austro - April 16, 2022April 16, 2022 0821

Here are a list of the rules the USFL is employing that are different than the NFL rules set. Game timing Halftime is 10 minutes in lengthPlay clock will use 35 seconds, 25 seconds after a stoppageTiming rules for a runner out of bounds apply after the 2-minute warningThe clock stops on

Everything you need to know about the momentum exception rule

Rules School

by Cameron Filipe - February 4, 2022February 4, 2022 01675

Embed from Getty Images A turnover in the red zone can be damaging to an offense. All of the hard work exerted on the drive comes to an abrupt halt as the defense takes over. When the goal line and end zone come into play on a change of possession, the

Officials concentrating on edge defenders timing the snap on FG and XP attempts

Rules School

by Rich Madrid - September 5, 2021September 5, 2021 02364

In the NFL, speed is king. Pass rushers rely on it to beat their blockers around the edge on high leverage passing downs. Receivers and running backs rely on it to beat their defenders. And special teams units rely on it on the edge to get to the kicker quicker

Faked extra point is good, but it’s worth 0 points

by Ben Austro - August 16, 2021August 17, 2021 06847

In the first quarter of their preseason opener, the Buccaneers threw open their playbooks to back section with all of the razzle-dazzle plays. However, they found one play that they can tear out of the book. On an extra-point attempt the Buccaneers opened up with a spread formation and punter

Raiders and Chargers know all about the special fumble rule

by Mark Schultz - December 18, 2020December 18, 2020 07888

Somewhere in the chill of a north surburban Chicago night, retired NFL referee Jerry Markbreit had to be smiling - or wincing - in the frantic moments of the Raiders-Chargers Week 15 Thursday Night Football game. Referee John Hussey had to apply a rule that Markbreit wishes would have been on

Dissecting blindside blocks: when is it legal or illegal?

Rules School

by Rich Madrid - December 5, 2020December 5, 2020 011408

Analysis by Rich Madrid There has been a great deal of confusion among fans as to what constitutes a blindside block. Part of that confusion stems from the fact that in 2019, the NFL competition committee changed the rules on blindside blocks. Originally, the rule covered only forcible contact to the

Roughing the passer will be ‘exactly the same’ in 2019, but what are officials looking for?

Rules School

by Rich Madrid - August 9, 2019 05337

Embed from Getty Images Beginning this season, officials will be applying the following interpretations to the roughing the passer rule that caused much controversy last season and that we covered numerous times (here, here, and here among them). Through the first three weeks last season, officials threw 34 flags for roughing

Inside the new AAF defensive formation rules

by Rich Madrid - February 17, 2019February 17, 2019 06412

The new Alliance of American Football has some major differences in the way the game is structured compared to the NFL. Of course, there are no kickoffs, no extra points, and hits on the quarterback that are illegal in the NFL are not illegal in the AAF. Some of the other

Everything you need to know about 10-second runoffs

Rules School

by Patrick Weber - October 19, 2017September 10, 2018 429104

In the last two minutes of each half, the time on the clock becomes extremely important. There are several rules that come in play, including the potential for a 10-second runoff. The runoff has been in the NFL in since 1955, and its purpose is to nullify the offense's advantage

You make the call: What happens when a flag comes at the end of the quarter?

by Football Zebras staff - December 14, 2016January 17, 2019 216561

A Football Zebras rules quiz Do you know when to extend the period and when the period, half, or game is over? What if overtime is thrown in the mix? Take the Football ZebrasÂ rules quiz to see if you do. For this quiz, the 2016 NFL Rulebook applies. After you have taken

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