112-757: Brock Alan Osweiler (born November 22, 1990) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft . Osweiler first served as the Broncos' starter during their Super Bowl -winning season in 2015 when he relieved an injured Peyton Manning and helped Denver get
224-422: A gridiron in appearance. Other major rule changes included a reduction of the field size to 110 by 53 + 1 ⁄ 3 yards (100.6 m × 48.8 m) and the adoption of a scoring system that awarded four points for a touchdown, two for a safety and a goal following a touchdown , and five for a goal from the field . Additionally, tackling below the waist was legalized, and a static line of scrimmage
336-403: A halftime period, and the first and third quarters are followed by a short break. Before the game starts, the referee and each team's captain meet at midfield for a coin toss . The visiting team can call either "heads" or "tails"; the winner of the toss chooses whether to receive or kick off the ball or which goal they wish to defend. They can defer their choice until the second half. Unless
448-401: A 10-yard-long chain between them, are used to measure for a first down. The chain crew stays on the sidelines during the game, but if requested by the officials they will briefly bring the chains on to the field to measure. A typical chain crew will have at least three people—two members of the chain crew will hold either of the two sticks, while a third will hold the down marker. The down marker,
560-696: A 127.1 passer rating in a 17–15 win over the Bears, becoming the first player to start and win his first career game on his birthday. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Bears. Osweiler was presented the game ball after the game by head coach Gary Kubiak . The next day, it was announced that Osweiler would start the following week against the New England Patriots. On November 29, 2015, Osweiler led
672-565: A 15–12 defeat to the Oakland Raiders . He capped the game off with a career-high 51 attempts, completing 35 of them for 308 yards. On December 15, it was announced that Osweiler would start his fifth consecutive game against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite the fact that Manning had returned to practice. During the game Osweiler completed 21 of 44 passes for 296 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He also carried
784-525: A PAT attempt or successful field goal, the scoring team must kick the ball off to the other team. A safety is scored when the ball carrier is tackled in the carrier's own end zone. Safeties are worth two points, which are awarded to the defense. In addition, the team that conceded the safety must kick the ball to the scoring team via a free kick . Football games are played on a rectangular field that measures 120 yards (110 m) long and 53 + 1 ⁄ 3 yards (48.8 m) wide. Lines marked along
896-615: A Week 4 win against the Philadelphia Eagles , Osweiler came in to complete 2 of 3 passes for 10 yards, adding rush yards on two attempts. In a Week 17 win against the Raiders , Osweiler completed 9 of 13 attempts for 85 yards. During the Week 12 overtime loss in the 2013 season, Osweiler was put into the line in an attempt to block the New England Patriots game-winning field-goal, as he was the tallest member of
1008-786: A backup with the Miami Dolphins . Born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho , on November 22, 1990, Osweiler was raised by his parents, Kathy and John Osweiler, in Kalispell, Montana . Osweiler attended Flathead High School . Osweiler's older brother, Tanner, played college football in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) at Montana Tech in Butte . Their father received scholarship offers to play football at Montana and Montana State but ultimately chose to enter
1120-692: A career. Osweiler appeared in four games the remainder of the season with two interceptions to no touchdowns. Overall, he finished the 2018 season with 1,247 passing yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions in seven games. On October 16, 2019, Osweiler announced his retirement from the NFL. Osweiler joined ESPN in 2022 as a college football analyst. Osweiler married Erin Costales in February 2015. The couple have two children. American football American football , referred to simply as football in
1232-479: A common draft that would take place each year, and it instituted an annual World Championship game to be played between the champions of each league. This championship game began play at the end of the 1966 season. Once the merger was completed, it was no longer a championship game between two leagues and reverted to the NFL championship game, which came to be known as the Super Bowl . College football maintained
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#17327834079571344-598: A feat the Professional Football Researchers Association compared to "selling refrigerators to Eskimos ". Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and Columbia then agreed to intercollegiate play using a form of rugby union rules with a modified scoring system. These schools formed the Intercollegiate Football Association , although Yale did not join until 1879. Yale player Walter Camp , now regarded as
1456-453: A field goal instead. A group of officials, the chain crew, keeps track of both the downs and the distance measurements. On television, a yellow line is electronically superimposed on the field to show the first down line to the viewing audience. There are two categories of kicks in football: scrimmage kicks, which can be executed by the offensive team on any down from behind or on the line of scrimmage, and free kicks. The free kicks are
1568-428: A game between Yale and Princeton, both teams used this strategy to maintain their undefeated records. Each team held the ball, gaining no ground, for an entire half, resulting in a 0–0 tie. This "block game" proved extremely unpopular with both teams' spectators and fans. A rule change was necessary to prevent this strategy from taking hold, and a reversion to the scrum was considered. However, Camp successfully proposed
1680-598: A game for the Allegheny Athletic Association against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club . This is the first recorded instance of a player being paid to participate in a game of American football , although many athletic clubs in the 1880s offered indirect benefits, such as helping players attain employment, giving out trophies or watches that players could pawn for money, or paying double in expense money. Despite these extra benefits,
1792-533: A large stick with a dial on it, is flipped after each play to indicate the current down and is typically moved to the approximate spot of the ball. The chain crew system has been used for over 100 years and is considered an accurate measure of distance, rarely subject to criticism from either side. Football is a full-contact sport, and injuries are relatively common. Most injuries occur during training sessions, particularly ones that involve contact between players. To try to prevent injuries, players are required to wear
1904-564: A league-suggested numbering scheme. Although the sport is played almost exclusively by men, women are eligible to play in high school, college, and professional football. No woman has ever played in the NFL, but women have played in high school and college football games. In 2018, 1,100 of the 225,000 players in Pop Warner Little Scholars youth football were girls, and around 11% of the 5.5 million Americans who report playing tackle football are female according to
2016-408: A long circumference of 28 to 28 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (71 to 72 cm), and a short circumference of 21 to 21 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches (53 to 54 cm). In college and high school play the ball has a long axis of 10 + 7 ⁄ 8 to 11 + 7 ⁄ 16 inches (27.6 to 29.1 cm), a long circumference of 27 + 3 ⁄ 4 to 28 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (70 to 72 cm), and
2128-420: A minimum of 10 feet (3.0 m) on high school fields. Goal posts are padded at the base, and orange ribbons are normally placed at the tip of each upright as indicators of wind strength and direction. The football itself is a prolate spheroid leather ball, similar to the balls used in rugby or Australian rules football . To contain the compressed air within it, a pig's bladder was commonly used before
2240-704: A national champion of college football. The first was the Bowl Coalition , in place from 1992 to 1994. This was replaced in 1995 by the Bowl Alliance , which gave way to the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1997. The BCS arrangement proved to be controversial , and was replaced in 2014 by the College Football Playoff (CFP). A football game is played between two teams of 11 players each. Playing with more on
2352-428: A pass hits the ground without a player having caught it. A forward pass can be legally attempted only if the passer is behind the line of scrimmage; only one forward pass can be attempted per down. As in rugby, players can also pass the ball backwards at any point during a play. In the NFL, a down also ends immediately if the runner's helmet comes off. The offense is given a series of four plays, known as downs . If
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#17327834079572464-427: A quarter ends, play continues until the down is completed. If certain fouls are committed during play while time has expired, the quarter may be extended through an untimed down . Games last longer than their defined length due to play stoppages—the average NFL game lasts slightly over three hours. Time in a football game is measured by the game clock. An operator is responsible for starting, stopping and operating
2576-414: A round ball that could not be picked up or carried. It could, however, be kicked or batted with the feet, hands, head, or sides, with the objective being to advance it into the opponent's goal. Rutgers won the game 6–4. Collegiate play continued for several years with games played using the rules of the host school. Representatives of Yale, Columbia , Princeton and Rutgers met on October 19, 1873, to create
2688-422: A rule in 1882 that limited each team to three downs , or tackles, to advance the ball 5 yards (4.6 m). Failure to advance the ball the required distance within those three downs would result in control of the ball being forfeited to the other team. This change effectively made American football a separate sport from rugby, and the resulting five-yard lines added to the field to measure distances made it resemble
2800-436: A secondary signal. Women can serve as officials; Sarah Thomas became the NFL's first female official in 2015. The seven officials (of a standard seven-man crew; lower levels of play up to the college level use fewer officials) on the field are each tasked with a different set of responsibilities: Another set of officials, the chain crew , are responsible for moving the chains. The chains, consisting of two large sticks with
2912-474: A senior, he was the 2008–2009 Gatorade Player of the Year in football for Montana after he completed 189 of 303 passes for 2,703 yards and 29 touchdowns ; he also rushed for 700 yards on 162 carries with 13 touchdowns. Osweiler chose to attend Arizona State University over scholarship offers from Stanford and Washington State . As a true freshman in 2009, Osweiler played in six games with one start. He became
3024-565: A set of equipment. At a minimum players must wear a football helmet and a set of shoulder pads , but individual leagues may require additional padding such as thigh pads and guards, knee pads, chest protectors, and mouthguards . Most injuries occur in the lower extremities, particularly in the knee, but a significant number also affect the upper extremities. The most common types of injuries are strains , sprains , bruises , fractures , dislocations , and concussions . 2012 Oakland Raiders season The 2012 Oakland Raiders season
3136-410: A short circumference of 20 + 3 ⁄ 4 to 21 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches (53 to 54 cm). Football games last for a total of 60 minutes in professional and college play and are divided into two halves of 30 minutes and four quarters of 15 minutes. High school football games are 48 minutes in length with two halves of 24 minutes and four quarters of 12 minutes. The two halves are separated by
3248-588: A single-season Texans franchise record. Savage was then named the starter for the game against the Cincinnati Bengals . In Week 17, Osweiler entered the game in relief of Savage, who suffered a concussion. Osweiler completed 21 of 40 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a 1-yard touchdown as the Texans lost to the Tennessee Titans by a score of 24–17. Overall, he finished
3360-456: A standard set of rules for use by all schools. Teams were set at 20 players each, and fields of 400 by 250 feet (122 m × 76 m) were specified. Harvard abstained from the conference, as they favored a rugby-style game that allowed running with the ball. After playing McGill University using both American (known as "the Boston game ") for the first game and Canadian (rugby) rules for
3472-449: A tradition of postseason bowl games . Each bowl game was associated with a particular conference and earning a spot in a bowl game was the reward for winning a conference. This arrangement was profitable, but it tended to prevent the two top-ranked teams from meeting in a true national championship game, as they would normally be committed to the bowl games of their respective conferences. Several systems have been used since 1992 to determine
Brock Osweiler - Misplaced Pages Continue
3584-425: Is called on the offense. There are two main ways the offense can advance the ball: running and passing . In a typical play, the center passes the ball backwards and between their legs to the quarterback in a process known as the snap . The quarterback then either hands the ball off to a running back, throws the ball, or runs with it. The play ends when the player with the ball is tackled or goes out-of-bounds or
3696-437: Is caught or recovered behind the line of scrimmage. If it is touched or recovered by the kicking team beyond this line, it becomes dead at the spot where it was touched. The kicking team is prohibited from interfering with the receiver's opportunity to catch the ball. The receiving team has the option of signaling for a fair catch , which prohibits the defense from blocking into or tackling the receiver. The play ends as soon as
3808-403: Is known as a two-point conversion . In general, the extra point is almost always successful, while the two-point conversion is a much riskier play with a higher probability of failure; accordingly, extra point attempts are far more common than two-point conversion attempts. A field goal (FG), worth three points, is scored when the ball is place kicked or drop kicked through the uprights and over
3920-407: Is responsible for all kicking plays. The special teams unit of the team in control of the ball tries to execute field goal (FG) attempts, punts , and kickoffs , while the opposing team's unit will aim to block or return them. Three positions are specific to the field goal and PAT (point-after-touchdown) unit: the placekicker (K or PK), holder (H), and long snapper (LS). The long snapper's job
4032-421: Is to block members of the defensive line from tackling the ball carrier on running plays or sacking the quarterback on passing plays. The leader of the offensive line is the center, who is responsible for snapping the ball to the quarterback, blocking, and for making sure that the other linemen do their jobs during the play. On either side of the center are the guards (G), while tackles (T) line up outside
4144-437: Is to snap the football to the holder, who will catch and position it for the placekicker. There is not usually a holder on kickoffs, because the ball is kicked off a tee; however, a holder may be used in certain situations, such as if wind is preventing the ball from remaining upright on the tee. The player on the receiving team who catches the ball is known as the kickoff returner (KR). The positions specific to punt plays are
4256-607: The 1958 NFL Championship game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants , still referred to as the "Greatest Game Ever Played". The game, a 23–17 overtime victory by the Colts, was seen by millions of television viewers and had a major influence on the popularity of the sport. This, along with the innovations introduced by the new American Football League (AFL) in the early 1960s, helped football to become
4368-636: The Denver Broncos , Osweiler had a total of three fumbles with one lost as the Texans were defeated 27–9. During Week 12 against the San Diego Chargers , Osweiler threw no touchdowns and three interceptions as the Texans lost 21–13. However, he did contribute a 1-yard rushing touchdown. During Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars , Osweiler was benched for Tom Savage after throwing back-to-back first-half interceptions. The two interceptions brought his season total to 16, setting
4480-555: The Kansas City Chiefs on November 15, 2015, Osweiler took over for Peyton Manning , who was benched after throwing four interceptions and posting a passer rating of 0.0 . The Broncos later announced that Osweiler would start in place of the injured Manning the following week against the Chicago Bears . In his first start on his 25th birthday, he completed 20 out of his 27 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns and
4592-411: The kickoff , which starts the first and third quarters and overtime and follows a try attempt or a successful field goal; the safety kick follows a safety. On a kickoff, the ball is placed at the 35-yard line of the kicking team in professional and college play and at the 40-yard line in high school play. The ball may be drop kicked or place kicked. If a place kick is chosen, the ball can be placed on
Brock Osweiler - Misplaced Pages Continue
4704-407: The punter (P), long snapper, upback , and gunner . The long snapper snaps the football directly to the punter, who then drops and kicks it before it hits the ground. Gunners line up split outside the line and race down the field, aiming to tackle the punt returner (PR)—the player who catches the punt. Upbacks line up a short distance behind the line of scrimmage, providing additional protection to
4816-471: The "Father of American Football", secured rule changes in 1880 that reduced the size of each team from 15 to 11 players and instituted the snap to replace the chaotic and inconsistent scrum . While the game between Rutgers and Princeton is commonly considered the first American football game, several years prior in 1862, the Oneida Football Club formed as the oldest known football club in
4928-520: The "Father of American Football", established the snap , the line of scrimmage , eleven-player teams, and the concept of downs. Later rule changes legalized the forward pass , created the neutral zone , and specified the size and shape of the football. The sport is closely related to Canadian football , which evolved in parallel with and at the same time as the American game, although its rules were developed independently from those of Camp. Most of
5040-429: The 2016 season with 2,957 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Due to Savage's injury, Osweiler started the Texans' Wild Card Round playoff game against the Oakland Raiders . During the game, he completed 14 of 25 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 15 yards and a touchdown as the Texans won 27–14. Shortly after the game, head coach Bill O'Brien announced that Osweiler would remain
5152-568: The AFC Championship Game. On March 9, 2016, Osweiler signed a four-year, $ 72 million contract ($ 37 million guaranteed) with the Houston Texans . In his Texans' debut on September 11, 2016, Osweiler passed for 231 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in the 23–14 victory over the Chicago Bears . Despite his strong start, he began to struggle as the season progressed. During a Week 7 road game against his former team,
5264-542: The AFL New York Jets signed rookie Joe Namath to a then-record $ 437,000 contract (equivalent to $ 4.23 million in 2023). A five-year, $ 40 million NBC television contract followed, which helped to sustain the young league. The bidding war for players ended in 1966 when NFL owners approached the AFL regarding a merger, and the two leagues agreed on one that took full effect in 1970. This agreement provided for
5376-402: The Broncos lost 27–11. On March 23, 2018, Osweiler signed with the Miami Dolphins , reuniting him with his former Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase . During Week 4 of the 2018 season, Osweiler came into the 38–7 loss to the New England Patriots in relief of Ryan Tannehill and threw a touchdown to Frank Gore in the fourth quarter. Two weeks later, Osweiler was named the starter for
5488-668: The Broncos to a 27–20 win over the Chargers and helped the Broncos secure the top seed in the AFC. On January 7, 2016, the team announced Osweiler suffered a low-grade strain to the medial collateral ligament of his right knee during a game against the San Diego Chargers . Osweiler finished the 2015 season completing 170 completions out of 275 attempts (61.8%) for 1,967 yards for 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions while having an 86.4 quarterback rating. He also rushed for 61 yards on 21 attempts for an additional touchdown. On February 7, 2016, Osweiler
5600-439: The Broncos to a win over the then-undefeated Patriots in overtime, 30–24. He completed 23 of 42 passes for 270 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Osweiler started his third consecutive game for the injured Manning during Week 13 against the San Diego Chargers . He finished the game with 16 of 26 completions (61.5%) for 166 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The following week, Osweiler suffered his first loss in
5712-474: The Browns after the team named rookie DeShone Kizer as the starter. On September 2, 2017, Osweiler signed a one-year contract with the Broncos after backup quarterback Paxton Lynch sustained a shoulder injury. His contract was worth the league-minimum $ 775,000, leaving the Browns to pay the remaining $ 15.25 million of Osweiler's $ 16 million guaranteed. On November 1, it was announced that Osweiler would start
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#17327834079575824-582: The FCS and 85 scholarship players in the FBS, respectively. Individual players in a football game must be designated with a uniform number between 1 and 99, though some teams may "retire" certain numbers , making them unavailable to players. NFL teams are required to number their players by a league-approved numbering system, and any exceptions must be approved by the commissioner . NCAA and NFHS teams are "strongly advised" to number their offensive players according to
5936-865: The Raiders finished the year 2–14 and claimed the first overall pick in the draft. The Raiders did not have first-, second-, third-, fourth- or seventh-round selections heading into the 2012 NFL draft due to the following trades: All undrafted free agents were signed following the conclusion of the 2012 NFL draft on April 28. Front office Head coaches Offensive coaches Special teams coaches Strength and conditioning Running backs (RB) Wide receivers (WR) Tight ends (TE) Defensive linemen (DL) Defensive backs (DB) Special teams Reserve at O.co Coliseum , Oakland, California First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers Top rushers Top receivers With
6048-456: The Sports and Fitness Industry Association. The role of the offensive unit is to advance the football down the field with the ultimate goal of scoring a touchdown . The offensive team must line up in a legal formation before they can snap the ball. An offensive formation is considered illegal if there are more than four players in the backfield or fewer than five players numbered 50–79 on
6160-536: The Sun Devils starting quarterback after the retirement of Steven Threet . He finished the season with 4,036 yards and 26 touchdowns. Osweiler was rated the sixth best quarterback in the 2012 NFL draft by NFLDraftScout.com. He measured 6'6 and 7/8 inches tall at the 2012 NFL Combine , instead of the 6'8" that the media had touted throughout his Arizona State career. He scored a 25 on the Wonderlic . Osweiler
6272-413: The Texans' 2017 sixth-round pick and 2018 second-round pick in exchange for the Browns' 2017 fourth-round compensatory pick. This trade was termed by ESPN 's Adam Schefter as possibly the most creative trade in NFL history. The move allowed Cleveland to absorb some of Osweiler's cap from Houston in exchange for draft picks, one of the first trades of its kind. On September 2, 2017, Osweiler was released by
6384-586: The United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia. American football evolved from the sports of rugby and soccer . Rugby, like American football, is a sport in which two competing teams vie for control of a ball, which can be kicked through a set of goalposts or run into the opponent's goal area to score points. What is considered to be the first American football game was played on November 6, 1869 , between Rutgers and Princeton , two college teams. They consisted of 25 players per team and used
6496-468: The United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football , is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense , the team with possession of the oval-shaped football , attempts to advance down the field by running with the ball or throwing it , while the defense , the team without possession of the ball, aims to stop
6608-455: The United States. The team consisted of graduates of Boston's elite preparatory schools and played from 1862 to 1865. The introduction of the snap resulted in an unexpected consequence. Before the snap, the strategy had been to punt if a scrum resulted in bad field position. However, a group of Princeton players realized that, as the snap was uncontested, they could now hold the ball indefinitely to prevent their opponent from scoring. In 1881, in
6720-554: The United States: official time was kept on a scoreboard clock rather than on a watch in the referee's pocket, as the NFL did; optional two-point conversions by pass or run after touchdowns; names on the jerseys of players; and several others, including expansion of the role of minority players, actively recruited by the league in contrast to the NFL. The AFL also signed several star college players who had also been drafted by NFL teams. Competition for players heated up in 1965, when
6832-527: The Week 6 game against the Chicago Bears after Tannehill was inactive due to a shoulder injury. Osweiler passed for 380 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions and led the Dolphins to a 31–28 overtime victory over the Bears. With the win over the Chicago Bears in week 6, Osweiler improved to a 4-0 career record in overtime games, which is an NFL record winning percentage in overtime NFL games in
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#17327834079576944-460: The advent of artificial rubber inside the leather outer shell to sustain crushing forces . At all levels of play, the football is inflated to 12 + 1 ⁄ 2 to 13 + 1 ⁄ 2 psi (86 to 93 kPa), or just under one atmosphere, and weighs 14 to 15 ounces (400 to 430 g); beyond that, the exact dimensions vary slightly. In professional play the ball has a long axis of 11 to 11 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches (28 to 29 cm),
7056-443: The ball 5 times for 19 yards and a seven-yard touchdown, but the Broncos ultimately lost 34–27. In Week 16, Osweiler started his sixth consecutive game against the Cincinnati Bengals , completing 27 of 39 attempts for 299 yards and one touchdown in a 20–17 overtime win. In the Broncos' regular-season finale, on January 3, Osweiler was replaced by Manning in the third quarter after throwing two interceptions and fumbling once. Manning led
7168-435: The ball is caught, and the ball may not be advanced. Officials are responsible for enforcing game rules and monitoring the clock. All officials carry a whistle and wear black-and-white striped shirts and black hats except for the referee, whose hat is white. Each carries a weighted yellow flag that is thrown to the ground to signal that a foul has been called. An official who spots multiple fouls will throw their hat as
7280-478: The ball off, throws it, or runs with it. The primary role of the halfback, also known as the running back or tailback, is to carry the ball on running plays. Halfbacks may also serve as receivers. Fullbacks tend to be larger than halfbacks and function primarily as blockers, but they are sometimes used as runners in short-yardage or goal-line situations. They are seldom used as receivers. The offensive line (OL) consists of several players whose primary function
7392-467: The ball through the opponent's goalposts for a field goal . The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of soccer and rugby . The first American football game was played on November 6, 1869 , between two college teams, Rutgers and Princeton , using rules based on the rules of soccer at the time. A set of rule changes drawn up from 1880 onward by Walter Camp ,
7504-413: The crossbars of the defense's goalposts. In practice, almost all field goal attempts are done via place kick. While drop kicks were common in the early days of the sport, the shape of modern footballs makes it difficult to reliably drop kick the ball. The last successful scoring play by drop kick in the NFL was accomplished in 2006; prior to that, the last successful drop kick had been made in 1941. After
7616-399: The defense is to prevent the offense from scoring by tackling the ball carrier or by forcing turnovers . Turnovers include interceptions (a defender catching a forward pass intended for the offense) and forced fumbles (taking possession of the ball from the ball-carrier). The defensive line (DL) consists of defensive ends (DE) and defensive tackles (DT). Defensive ends line up on
7728-430: The defensive backfield. They are divided into two types: middle linebackers (MLB) and outside linebackers (OLB). Linebackers tend to serve as the defensive leaders and call the defensive plays, given their vantage point of the offensive backfield. Their roles include defending the run, pressuring the quarterback, and tackling backs, wide receivers, and tight ends in the passing game. The defensive backfield , often called
7840-472: The ends and sides of the field are known as the end lines and sidelines . Goal lines are marked 10 yards (9.1 m) inward from each end line. Weighted pylons are placed the sidelines on the inside corner of the intersections with the goal lines and end lines. White markings on the field identify the distance from the end zone. Inbound lines, or hash marks , are short parallel lines that mark off 1-yard (0.91 m) increments. Yard lines , which can run
7952-404: The ends of the line, while defensive tackles line up inside, between the defensive ends. The primary responsibilities of defensive ends and defensive tackles are to stop running plays on the outside and inside, respectively, to pressure the quarterback on passing plays, and to occupy the line so that the linebackers can break through. Linebackers line up behind the defensive line but in front of
8064-561: The features that distinguish American football from rugby and soccer are also present in Canadian football. The two sports are considered the primary variants of gridiron football . American football is the most popular sport in the United States in terms of broadcast viewership audience. The most popular forms of the game are professional and college football , with the other major levels being high-school and youth football. As of 2022 , nearly 1.04 million high-school athletes play
8176-468: The field is punishable by a penalty. Teams may substitute any number of their players between downs; this "platoon" system replaced the original system, which featured limited substitution rules, and has resulted in teams utilizing specialized offensive, defensive and special teams units. The number of players allowed on an active roster varies by league; the NFL has a 53-man roster, while NCAA Division I allows teams to have 63 scholarship players in
8288-454: The field was shortened to 100 yards (91 m) long, two 10-yard-long (9.1 m) end zones were created, and teams were given four downs instead of three to advance the ball 10 yards (9.1 m). The roughing the passer penalty was implemented in 1914, and eligible players were first allowed to catch the ball anywhere on the field in 1918. On November 12, 1892, Pudge Heffelfinger was paid $ 500 (equivalent to $ 16,956 in 2023) to play
8400-401: The first true freshman to start a game for the Sun Devils since Jake Plummer in 1993. He finished the season completing 24 of 55 passes for 249 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions . As a sophomore in 2010, he again played in six games with one start. For the season he completed 62 of 109 passes for 797 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. As a junior in 2011, he took over as
8512-629: The formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States, later renamed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The legal forward pass was introduced in 1906, although its effect was initially minimal due to the restrictions placed on its use. The idea of a 40-yard-wider field was opposed by Harvard due to the size of the new Harvard Stadium . Other rule changes introduced that year included
8624-419: The game clock based on the direction of the appropriate official . A separate play clock is used to show the amount of time within which the offense must initiate a play. The play clock is set to 25 seconds after certain administrative stoppages in play and to 40 seconds when play is proceeding without such stoppages. If the offense fails to start a play before the play clock reads "00", a delay of game foul
8736-409: The game had a strict sense of amateurism at the time, and direct payment to players was frowned upon, if not prohibited outright. Over time, professional play became increasingly common, and with it came rising salaries and unpredictable player movement, as well as the illegal payment of college players who were still in school. The National Football League (NFL), a group of professional teams that
8848-507: The general manager since 1972 , as Reggie McKenzie was hired from the Green Bay Packers ' organization by Al Davis' son Mark on January 10 to be the general manager of the team, and was given full autonomy over the football operations. McKenzie fired Jackson on his first day and hired Allen 2 weeks later. The Raiders failed to improve on their 8–8 record in 2011 , securing them into their tenth consecutive non-winning season and
8960-443: The ground or a tee; a holder may be used in either case. On a safety kick, the kicking team kicks the ball from their own 20-yard line. They can punt, drop kick or place kick the ball, but a tee may not be used in professional play. Any member of the receiving team may catch or advance the ball. The ball may be recovered by the kicking team once it has gone at least ten yards and has touched the ground or has been touched by any member of
9072-434: The guards. The principal receivers are the wide receivers (WR) and the tight ends (TE). Wide receivers line up on or near the line of scrimmage, split outside the line. The main goal of the wide receiver is to catch passes thrown by the quarterback, but they may also function as decoys or as blockers during running plays. Tight ends line up outside the tackles and function both as receivers and as blockers. The role of
9184-452: The loss, the Raiders began their season 0–1. at Sun Life Stadium , Miami Gardens, Florida First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers Top rushers Top receivers With the loss, the Raiders fell to 0–2. at O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers Top rushers Top receivers With
9296-647: The military out of high school. Osweiler played both football and basketball ; football was the dominant sport in Montana, so Osweiler traveled to neighboring states to play for Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball teams in Portland, Oregon , and Seattle , Yakima , and Spokane, Washington . In 2006, after his freshman year of high school, he committed to Gonzaga University in Spokane to play basketball, but later decided to focus on playing college football. As
9408-506: The most popular sport in the United States by the mid-1960s. The rival AFL arose in 1960 and challenged the NFL's dominance. The AFL began in relative obscurity but eventually thrived, with an initial television contract with the ABC television network. The AFL's existence forced the conservative NFL to expand to Dallas and Minnesota in an attempt to destroy the new league. Meanwhile, the AFL introduced many new features to professional football in
9520-429: The offense advances ten or more yards in the four downs, they are awarded a new set of four downs. If they fail to advance ten yards, possession of the football is turned over to the defense. In most situations, if the offense reaches their fourth down they will punt the ball to the other team, which forces them to begin their drive from farther down the field; if they are in field goal range , they might attempt to score
9632-410: The offense's advance and to take control of the ball for themselves. The offense must advance the ball at least ten yards in four downs or plays; if they fail, they turn over the football to the defense, but if they succeed, they are given a new set of four downs to continue the drive . Points are scored primarily by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone for a touchdown or kicking
9744-429: The offensive line. Players can line up temporarily in a position whose eligibility is different from what their number permits as long as they report the change immediately to the referee, who then informs the defensive team of the change. Neither team's players, except the center (C), are allowed to line up in or cross the neutral zone until the ball is snapped. Interior offensive linemen are not allowed to move until
9856-445: The plane of the two end lines. The crossbar of these posts is 10 feet (3.0 m) above the ground, with vertical uprights at the end of the crossbar 18 feet 6 inches (5.64 m) apart for professional and collegiate play, and 23 feet 4 inches (7.11 m) apart for high school play. The uprights extend vertically 35 feet (11 m) on professional fields, a minimum of 10 yards (9.1 m) on college fields, and
9968-451: The point(s)-after-touchdown (PAT) or conversion, which is a single scoring opportunity. This is generally attempted from the two- or three-yard line, depending on the level of play. If the PAT is scored by a place kick or drop kick through the goal posts, it is worth one point, typically called the extra point. If the PAT is scored by what would normally be a touchdown, it is worth two points; this
10080-422: The punter. In football, the winner is the team that has scored more points at the end of the game. There are multiple ways to score in a football game. The touchdown (TD), worth six points, is the most valuable scoring play in American football. A touchdown is scored when a live ball is advanced into, caught, or recovered in the opposing team's end zone. The scoring team then attempts a try, more commonly known as
10192-401: The receiving team. The three types of scrimmage kicks are place kicks, drop kicks, and punts. Only place kicks and drop kicks can score points. The place kick is the standard method used to score points, because the pointy shape of the football makes it difficult to reliably drop kick. Once the ball has been kicked from a scrimmage kick, it can be advanced by the kicking team only if it
10304-439: The reduction of playing time from 70 to 60 minutes and an increase of the distance required for a first down from 5 to 10 yards (4.6 to 9.1 m). To reduce infighting and dirty play between teams, the neutral zone was created along the width of the football before the snap. Scoring was also adjusted: points awarded for field goals were reduced to three in 1909 and points for touchdowns were raised to six in 1912. Also in 1912,
10416-542: The rulebook for the 1876 college football season , when the sport first shifted from soccer-style rules to rugby-style rules. Although it could easily have been called "rugby" at this point, Harvard, one of the primary proponents of the rugby-style game, compromised and did not request the name of the sport be changed to "rugby". The terms " gridiron " or "American football" are favored in English-speaking countries where other types of football are popular, such as
10528-457: The second one, the Harvard players preferred the Canadian style of having only 11 men on the field, running the ball without having to be chased by an opponent, the forward pass, tackling, and using an oblong instead of a round ball. An 1875 Harvard–Yale game played under rugby-style rules was observed by two Princeton athletes who were impressed by it. They introduced the sport to Princeton,
10640-503: The secondary, consists of cornerbacks (CB) and safeties (S). Safeties are themselves divided into free safeties (FS) and strong safeties (SS). Cornerbacks line up outside the defensive formation, typically opposite a receiver to be able to cover them. Safeties line up between the cornerbacks but farther back in the secondary. Safeties tend to be viewed as "the last line of defense" and are responsible for stopping deep passing plays as well as breakout running plays. The special teams unit
10752-411: The snap of the ball. The main backfield positions are the quarterback (QB), halfback/tailback (HB/TB), and fullback (FB). The quarterback is the leader of the offense. Either the quarterback or a coach calls the plays. Quarterbacks typically inform the rest of the offense of the play in the huddle before the team lines up. The quarterback lines up behind the center to take the snap and then hands
10864-531: The sport in the U.S., with another 81,000 college athletes in the NCAA and the NAIA . The National Football League (NFL) has the highest average attendance of any professional sports league in the world . Its championship game, the Super Bowl , ranks among the most-watched club sporting events globally. In 2022, the league had an annual revenue of around $ 18.6 billion, making it the most valuable sports league in
10976-557: The team at 6'7" (2.01 m) at the time. In a Week 7 win against the San Francisco 49ers , Osweiler attempted one incomplete pass. During a Week 10 41–17 win against the Raiders , Osweiler completed 2 of 5 passes for 13 yards. During the Broncos Week 15 22–10 win against the San Diego Chargers , Osweiler had two incomplete passes. Osweiler threw his first career touchdown against the Raiders on December 28, 2014. Against
11088-412: The team's Week 9 game against the Philadelphia Eagles in place of the benched Trevor Siemian . Osweiler finished the game with 208 passing yards, a touchdown, and 2 interceptions as the Broncos lost 51–23. He then started the team's next two games against the New England Patriots and the Cincinnati Bengals . On November 21, Osweiler was benched after Lynch was named the team's Week 12 starter. Lynch
11200-467: The team's starter for the divisional round playoff game against the New England Patriots even though Savage had cleared concussion protocol. In the divisional round, Osweiler completed 23 of 40 passes for 198 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions as the Texans lost by a score of 34–16. He also rushed for 18 yards. On March 9, 2017, Osweiler was traded to the Cleveland Browns along with
11312-412: The tenth consecutive elimination from postseason contention. The Raiders also clinched their divisional rank, securing their fifth consecutive season since 2007 which they finished third or fourth. This was also the first time since the 2009 NFL season that the team finished with a record below 8-8. The team did however upset the Pittsburgh Steelers , whom they also defeated in the 2006 NFL season , when
11424-499: The time was played at the collegiate level . The upstart NFL received a boost to its legitimacy in 1925, however, when an NFL team, the Pottsville Maroons , defeated a team of Notre Dame all-stars in an exhibition game . A greater emphasis on the passing game helped professional football to distinguish itself further from the college game during the late 1930s. Football, in general, became increasingly popular following
11536-475: The top seed in the AFC heading into the postseason, although Manning resumed his starting duties for the playoffs and eventual Super Bowl 50 victory. After the Super Bowl, Osweiler became the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans , but an unsuccessful 2016 campaign resulted in his tenure lasting only one season. He returned to Denver the following season in a backup role and played his final season as
11648-411: The width of the field, are marked every 5 yards (4.6 m). A one-yard-wide line is placed at each end of the field; this line is marked at the center of the two-yard line in professional play and at the three-yard line in college play. Numerals that display the distance from the closest goal line in yards are placed on both sides of the field every ten yards. Goalposts are located at the center of
11760-408: The winning team decides to defer, the losing team chooses the option the winning team did not select—to receive, kick, or select a goal to defend to begin the second half. Most teams choose to receive or defer, because choosing to kick the ball to start the game allows the other team to choose which goal to defend. Teams switch goals following the first and third quarters. If a down is in progress when
11872-402: The world. Other professional and amateur leagues exist worldwide, but the sport does not have the international popularity of other American sports like baseball or basketball ; the sport maintains a growing following in the rest of North America, Europe, Brazil, and Japan. In the United States, American football is referred to as "football". The term "football" was officially established in
11984-490: Was active as the backup quarterback as the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24–10. Despite Osweiler not seeing any playing time in the postseason, his 5-2 record as a starter in the 2015 regular season while Manning was sidelined with a foot injury was instrumental in helping Denver capture the top seed in the AFC and earning home field advantage over the New England Patriots in
12096-555: Was injured during his lone start and relieved by Siemian. During Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts , Siemian was injured and relieved by Osweiler. Osweiler played well, throwing for 194 yards and two touchdowns, en route to leading the Broncos to a 25–13 victory. He rushed 15 yards and a touchdown. Osweiler started in Week 16 against the Washington Redskins . He had 193 passing yards and an interception as
12208-520: Was instituted. Despite these new rules, football remained a violent sport. Dangerous mass-formations like the flying wedge resulted in serious injuries and deaths. A 1905 peak of 19 fatalities nationwide resulted in a threat by President Theodore Roosevelt to abolish the game unless major changes were made. In response, 62 colleges and universities met in New York City to discuss rule changes on December 28, 1905. These proceedings resulted in
12320-535: Was originally established in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, aimed to solve these problems. This new league's stated goals included an end to bidding wars over players, prevention of the use of college players, and abolition of the practice of paying players to leave another team. By 1922, the NFL had established itself as America's premier professional football league. The dominant form of football at
12432-416: Was selected with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos . He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $ 3,516,000 through the 2015 season. Osweiler made his NFL debut in Week 4 of the 2012 season against the Oakland Raiders . The Broncos won 37–6. He threw his first pass in a Week 17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs , completing 2 of 4 passes for 12 yards. In
12544-402: Was the franchise's 43rd season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 53rd overall. It was the first season under head coach Dennis Allen , who replaced Hue Jackson , who was fired one week after the 2011 season ended. It was also the first full season without the ownership of longtime owner Al Davis , who died on October 8, 2011, and the first season with a non-Davis family member as
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