American Football Guide

Preseason and Training Camp go hand in hand. It’s common for a team to hold training camp in
a retreat-style fashion in another city and state. This is usually done to minimize distractions and
to promote team bonding. There is a huge emphasis on conditioning (specifically weight training
and cardio) and mastering the playbook in camp. During training camp many players are trying
to just make the roster and avoid being cut. Those that are in danger of being cut are said to be on
the bubble. Cuts are unavoidable however, and a team will intentionally bring in many more
players​ ​than​ ​it​ ​will​ ​actually​ ​keep​ ​for​ ​the​ ​regular​ ​season.
Regular​ ​Season
The regular season is 17 weeks long. Each team plays 16 games (one game a week) called a
schedule, and has one week off for rest and recuperation. The week off is called a bye, and is
predetermined before the regular season begins. The schedule includes the matchups, (teams who
are playing each other) and the dates and times the games will be played. There are 8 home
games​ ​and​ ​8​ ​away​ ​games.
Division​ ​Games
Each team will play an opponent within its own division a total of two times during the regular
season, once at home and once away. Let’s take the Jacksonville Jaguars as an example, who are
in the AFC South division. The Jaguars will play the Texans, Colts and Titans twice in one
season for a total of 6 games, and vice versa. The Jaguars’ other 10 opponents will consist of 4
NFC​ ​teams​ ​and​ ​6​ ​AFC​ ​teams​ ​from​ ​around​ ​the​ ​league.​ ​The​ ​same​ ​model​ ​applies​ ​to​ ​every​ ​team,​ ​the
only difference being an NFC team will play 6 NFC teams and 4 AFC teams outside its division.
Division games are the most important, followed by conference games. The team with the most
division​ ​wins​ ​will​ ​automatically​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​playoffs​ ​to​ ​represent​ ​its​ ​division​ ​and​ ​win
the​ ​title​ ​of​ ​division​ ​champion.
Post​ ​Season
The​ ​post-season​ ​takes​ ​place​ ​after​ ​the​ ​regular​ ​season​ ​ends​ ​and​ ​the​ ​playoffs​ ​begin.​ ​The​ ​goal​ ​of
every​ ​NFL​ ​team​ ​is​ ​to​ ​first​ ​make​ ​the​ ​playoffs​ ​and​ ​then​ ​make​ ​it​ ​to,​ ​and​ ​hopefully​ ​win​ ​the​ ​Super
Bowl.​ ​Only​ ​12​ ​of​ ​the​ ​32​ ​teams​ ​will​ ​make​ ​it​ ​into​ ​the​ ​playoffs,​ ​(6​ ​teams​ ​from​ ​each​ ​conference)​ ​and
only​ ​2​ ​of​ ​the​ ​32​ ​teams​ ​will​ ​play​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Super​ ​Bowl.
Yanks​ ​Guide​ ​-​ ​The​ ​#1​ ​Guide​ ​to​ ​American​ ​Football
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