NFL coaches cover their mouths to keep opponents and broadcast cameras from reading play calls. Here is how the headset, play sheet and 15-second cutoff work together.

An NFL field-goal holder is not down merely because his knee is on the turf. Here is the rule, the fake-kick consequence and when the play ends.

Quarterbacks clap to give the center a clear shotgun snap signal. Here is how the sequence works, why teams use it and when the motion becomes a false start.

Quarterbacks kneel to drain the final seconds with minimal turnover risk. Here is how victory formation, the 40-second play clock and timeouts work together.

Shedeur Sanders outplayed Deshaun Watson against Buffalo, but the Browns have not named a Week 1 starter. Here is what changed—and what did not.

Michael Penix Jr. is cleared for Falcons 11-on-11 practice. Here is what the news changes in Atlanta’s QB battle with Tua—and what it does not.

NFL teams ice kickers to disrupt the field-goal routine, but studies disagree on whether the timeout reliably causes more misses.

An NFL team may intentionally concede two points to burn the final seconds, avoid a dangerous goal-line punt and improve its restart position.

NFL teams decline penalties when the play result creates a better combination of down, distance, field position, possession or clock.

A quarterback spikes the ball to stop a running game clock while saving a timeout—but the offense must sacrifice one down.