r/NFLNoobs • • 5h ago

Weekly "What Team Should I Root For?" Thread

1 Upvotes

The most common thing asked on this subreddit is new fans wondering what team to follow/support. The answers are always the same, and there are no right or wrong ones.

No one can just tell you who to be a fan of. Everyone's fandom is different, and all of them are valid. This is entertainment, and you are allowed to enjoy it however you like. That said, here are some common things you can look at to get started:

  1. Do you have a local team or favorite city? This is by far the easiest way to get into football. If your city/region has a team or if your friends/family follow the same team, joining them will be the smoothest way to start out.
  2. Are you already leaning in any particular way? If you are, keep leaning. If you saw a Cincinnati Bengals game and thought it was fun and you'd like to see more of them, you don't need anyone's permission or validation. Just watch their next game!
  3. Are you interested in a few different teams? Cool! Watch some of their games! See who you end up feeling strongly about, especially if they're playing each other. Have fun with it, there are no rules!
  4. Are you worried about a team's success/identity/prestige/fanbase? Don't be. The NFL is one of the most even sports in terms of parity, and there are rarely teams that stay good or bad forever. It's okay to enjoy watching the current best teams in the NFL; they are probably playing the best football most often. Try to just be a fan and don't worry about what others think or say. Your fandom is yours, not theirs.

Still overwhelmed and not sure where to turn? It's fine to watch random games. Maybe you'll find yourself rooting for someone in particular. And if you don't, try another game. Check out whoever is playing in primetime; those are usually expected to be more exciting matchups. Letting it come naturally will last longer than throwing a dart and deciding to be a fan of whoever it lands on.

Another way some people develop rooting interests is fantasy football. There are beginner leagues where people play for fun, and it can be a good way to get you invested in specific players or teams as you start rooting for whoever is on your fantasy roster.

If you're still torn or have other questions about starting with a specific new team, etc., you can ask them here.


r/NFLNoobs • • 2h ago

PBU vs forced fumble

4 Upvotes

How long after the catch does it take for hitting the ball out to be considered a forced fumble and not a PBU? Sometimes to me it looks like a receiver has caught and secured it and then it's hit out and the officials rule it incomplete.


r/NFLNoobs • • 7h ago

Can someone who is a rugby fan explain the tackle rules? I still confussed

5 Upvotes

I've been watching for a few years now but when it comes to big hits I'm still confused on legal/illegal tackles. Some I thought was fine, and everyone says "I can't believe he did that", then others I think are surely a penalty and then it's fine. Maybe if I hear it in a way I understand better than it might click more. Thanks.


r/NFLNoobs • • 12h ago

What were the cowboys shouting before snapping the ball?

6 Upvotes

Hey, new to football. Was watching the Cowboys vs. Eagles game tonight. Were they shouting “kill kill kill” before snapping the ball?


r/NFLNoobs • • 13h ago

Football teams

0 Upvotes

I’m just wondering if it’s ever valid to have two teams you love? I’m a fairly new fan, kept up with the season so far but there’s two teams that have my eye, one partly because it’s my home team but I see people getting outraged when someone dares mentions having two teams even if it’s in different conferences/ divisions, but I am aware about all the rivalries lol. 😂


r/NFLNoobs • • 14h ago

New NFL Watcher - Announcers

7 Upvotes

So, I’m a new football fan. I’ve only watched this season and is it normal for the quality of audio and announcers to be this wildly different?

I watched the Seahawks-Chiefs game and loved the announcers. They were cracking jokes, telling stories, etc. I’m watching the Eagles-Cowboys game now and the announcers are monotone or seem bored. Also, sometimes, it feels like there are no fans in the stadium, compared to Sunday’s game. It goes strangely quiet. Am I crazy? Is there like an A Team and B team?


r/NFLNoobs • • 14h ago

I am confused so the Eagles tried a hard count to draw Dallas offsides in 4th and 10. Offsides is only a 5 yard penalty. Were they planing to do it twice?

8 Upvotes

Like offsides isn't an automatic first down!


r/NFLNoobs • • 15h ago

Switch teams

0 Upvotes

I have been a lions fan for years now since I was super young now when I watch them even though they are way better I don’t get that same joy factor I’ve always like snow games and through of other teams that play in the snow but most I feel like I would become a Banwagon because lions haven’t won a Super Bowl and most of those teams have I though about dolphins but I doesn’t snow like most teams I’m stuck and have been with switching teams every week how do I just stick to one and pick one


r/NFLNoobs • • 18h ago

Can defensive players carry the ballcarrier upright so he scores a touchdown?

35 Upvotes

At the end of yesterday's Detroit-Green Bay game, it was 17-17 and Detroit had the ball deep in GB territory, with the clock around a minute or so. Detroit ran the ball, but strangely the GB defense wasn't stopping them. But then Detroit ballcarrier deliberately fell down, short of the endzone.

It was clear what was happening. Detroit wanted to let more clock tick off and so they could try for the chipshot field goal with little or no time left. But they still wanted to get as close as possible. GB wanted Detroit to score a TD early, so that they'd have more time to score a tying TD.

So instead of being passive and letting Detroit score, what if the GB defenders were even more proactive to helping Detroit score a TD? What if they simply lifted the ballcarrier and carried him into the end zone? As if they were each doing the opposite - the defense was trying to hold him up and the ballcarrier was trying to fall down.

Is there a way the ballcarrier could stop this? Signal to the officials he's "giving up?"

Or would GB have gotten what they wanted: Detroit scores a TD, but then GB has a better opportunity for a tying TD because there's a lot more time left on the clock to try to tie the score?


r/NFLNoobs • • 21h ago

Why doesn't every team have a scrambling QB?

0 Upvotes

Having played flag, this was like a cheat code. drop back to throw, qb scrambles, picks up at least 10-15 yards every time. Obviously there's tackling in the NFL but a good enough play fake should yield the same result, right?


r/NFLNoobs • • 22h ago

Buying NFL tickets in person, seller wants Venmo. How do I avoid a scam?

1 Upvotes

Meeting a seller in person to buy several NFL tickets (ticketmaster transfer), and they want Venmo. How do I verify the tickets are real and not already resold? Is Venmo safe for this, or should I push for something else? Any tips appreciated!

Edit: Bought the tickets. They’re legit. Highly appreciate the advice and support!


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

What makes the best receivers in the league so much better than other receivers?

7 Upvotes

I'm a Texans fan, so I can identify that what sets Nico Collins apart are his speed, size, and sure-handedness. He's one of the best in the league, but I don't think anybody would mistake him for being THE best. What sets the Justin Jeffersons, the Jamarr Chases apart from just about anyone else?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Is NFL+ really that cheap?

2 Upvotes

What’s the catch?
It’s $6.99 per month.
Will I be able to watch all games of X team if I live in the same state where they’re from?

This is too cheap to be true.
I also see an option to get Red Zone, but no clear description of what that is. It will make it $14.99 a month if I get both.

Is this the cheapest way to watch NFL games without string or Paramount?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Personal Foul against own team?

0 Upvotes

Has any player ever gotten a personal foul for doing something against their own team? Like taunting, unsportsmanlike, or unnecessary roughness?

I would guess taunting and unsportsmanlike would probably never happen because the refs probably wouldn't interfere with intra team dynamics and how players interact with their own team, but I would guess if two players of the same team actually got into a fight on the field they would probably both be ejected, but would it be a penalty too?

Has this ever happened?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Is there anything stopping a player/coach/team from taking a lawsuit to referee/s in local court outside of an NFL game?

0 Upvotes

Not that I think this would ever happen, but it would not be too farfetched to imagine an irate player or owner thinking there is some vendetta against them. As far as I have seen there is no referee "qualified immunity". Whether any judgement would affect the league it would be a statement if a judge agreed with the plaintiffs against the referee. The only thing I can think similarly happening is when a really bad MLB umpire tried to sue the MLB and say that it was racism keeping him from the higher prestige games when in reality it was this poor umpiring record. Like for example what would happen if Bears player Cassius March had filed an assault/battery lawsuit against ref Tony Corrente for the hip check he did?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Is it possible/legal to push an unwilling opponent into the end zone?

37 Upvotes

Was a thought I had while watching the Lions Packers game. There were a couple of plays where the packers clearly wanted Gibbs to score but he just went down to run the time out. Not sure if it’s legal or even realistic. If it’s not legal, could you somehow pass it off as a bad tackle from behind?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

What makes the Seahawks defense fast and some other defenses slow?

39 Upvotes

At risk of oversimplifying, the Seahawks defense just swarms the ballcarrier incredibly fast while some other defenses, like the Cowboys or Bills, are painfully slow to watch, taking a business day to reach an opponent.

What causes this? Is it some particular 4-3 scheme or mentality or assignment method, like man or zone? Having a particular coordinator?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Automatic First Down

10 Upvotes

Is an automatic first down a result of penalty yardage going past what is needed for a first down or are they always included on certain types of penalties? Like if you are 3rd and 20 incomplete and get unnecessary roughness for a 15 yard penalty, would it be 4th and 5 or 1st and 10?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Help me get into football

0 Upvotes

Im realy looking to get into football for a while as a former semi pro rugby player from israel , but i have no clue about the rules , the teams histroy and derbys ( if you even use this term in the nfl 🤷🏻) and where to start to watch / understand the rules . The only thing i know about football at all is that the patriots are owned by robert kraft cause they have a football center here , thats basicly it


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Schedule

11 Upvotes

This may not be a noob enough question so I apologise in advance if I give one of the mods extra work, but does schedule in the NFL give too much of an advantage to some teams over others? i’m particularly thinking to in and out of conference division pairings.

I understand how the formulas work but there was a lot of talk last year about how the Broncos and Patriots had two of the softest schedules, and the Browns this year are benefiting to some extent too.

Yes, no way to necessary predict 5, 3 or even 1 year out who may be good or bad, but is the argument for saying these things should be set at the end of the year when strength of schedule can be taken into account?

Or is playing everyone else in the league on a 3/4 year cycle too important to make a change? And if so, why?


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Why are CFB scores so much higher than the NFL?

96 Upvotes

I don't recall ever seeing an NFL score of 80.


r/NFLNoobs • • 1d ago

Nike limited jersey fit

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I got my bf a Nike Limited bills jersey for christmas and am in between sizes! I know nothing abt jerseys or the fit so bear with me lol i know he’d wear the jersey alone but i’d say more often over a hoodie/sweatshirt. I got a large but it looked super small length and chest-wise…so wondering if I should exchange for an XL! Thanks!

Height: 5’10 and approx 170-180lbs, he’d like it to be a little baggy but not form fitting


r/NFLNoobs • • 2d ago

Has there ever been an offensive line so good that it was able to rotate men throughout the game?

34 Upvotes

Usually, only defensive lines rotate players on and off, but was there ever a roster stacked with so many good O-linemen, and so in sync and teamwork, that they could swap in men and off and keep fresh without losing sync? They would be rested in a way O-linemen never are.


r/NFLNoobs • • 2d ago

Youtuber Recommendations for NFL Noobs

11 Upvotes

Hi, I wanna be more human and actually follow NFL.

Would you recommend a few channels?

I don't know anything about it. I know the Seahawks is blue and green.


r/NFLNoobs • • 2d ago

Where can I find slow-mo shots ?

1 Upvotes

I’m a video editor and I learned this really cool effect the other day that I would love to try on some NFL footage, specifically for a mock game trailer.

I’m a packers fan and the video would be centered around the Lions game coming up. The issue is, I’ve scoured YouTube, packers websites, yet I can’t find a nice simple shot of Jordan love throwing the ball deep in slow motion.

The Packers instagram has a perfect shot of this. Clear footage, slow mo, Jordan love letting it rip, but it’s cropped to fit the phone ratio so …😅

I can’t find a decent high quality Jordan Love video, so finding something on Goff and the lions I can image will also be tough .

Anybody know where I can find some HD slow mo clips?