r/NFLNoobs • u/AusteegLinks • 3d ago
Why do games end with time still on the clock?
I have only been watching NFL for 5 weeks (Hi from Melbourne) and I have seen multiple games where there's like three seconds left and the game is decided on the final play, but I have also seen games where there's 20 - 40 seconds left and the players shake each other's hands and walk off the field.
Can someone explain that to me? It's so weird as in every other sport that I have ever seen (except Cricket) the game keeps going until time runs out, and sometimes even beyond (like the Cardinals-Giants game where the Giants got the interception with 1 second to go, then ran it all the way down the field to score a TD even though there was no time left on the clock.
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u/ehunke 3d ago
There is a 40 second clock between plays, so long as there is 40 seconds or less left its over
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u/ImNotTheBossOfYou 3d ago edited 2d ago
:40 x 2 is w minutes so if the team with the lead get a first down and the other team is out of timeouts the game is over (with the formality of running the QB kneel play 3x.
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u/madlamb 3d ago edited 3d ago
Since there are 40 seconds on the play clock, if the team in the lead has the ball, the opponent has no timeouts, and there are less than 40 seconds left in the game clock, then they can just run the clock out without snapping the ball so the game is over.
ETA: clock management in general is pretty confusing for beginners. Incomplete passes, running out of bounds, timeouts, injuries, and penalties (sometimes those will have a runoff though) will stop the clock between plays. Otherwise it keeps running. That’s why you’ll see a losing team resort to almost exclusively throwing the ball near the end of the game.
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u/iNtentionaliGnornace 3d ago
The clock stopping is confusing as hell and I've been watching football since Ditka's Bears won the superbowl.
Clock stops for incomplete pass or the ball carrier running out of bounds...is what I thought. But its done differently after the 2 minute warning? And/or sometimes the clock keeps going or stops regardless of an incomplete pass or a rusher being tackled in bounds? I find its so confusing!
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u/ImNotTheBossOfYou 3d ago
It's not that hard.
Clock runs: Players tackled in bounds. (not counting change of posession)
Clock Stops until next snap: Penalty, Incomplete pass, Change of possession (including punts and kickoffs), any scoring play.
Clock stops until ref sets ball ready for play: Player runs out of bounds, *These stop the clock until the next snap in the last 5 minutes of 1st and 4th quarter. (First downs in college and High School, not pros.)
Timeouts and the 2 minute warning stop the clock as well.
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u/TheCleanRhino 3d ago
Clock stops after incomplete pass no matter what. It only stops running when a player goes out of bounds below five minutes of each half
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u/iNtentionaliGnornace 3d ago
When did that 5 minute rule come into effect? It wasn't always that way, was it?
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u/TheCleanRhino 3d ago
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u/iNtentionaliGnornace 3d ago
Thanks! I used to be with 'it', but then they changed what 'it' was. Now what I'm with isn't 'it', and what's 'it' seems weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you!
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u/RU_Gremlin 3d ago
And even then, only if the player is attempting to go forward, I believe (if the player runs out of bounds laterally or backwards without being forced out the clock continues to run)
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u/alfreadadams 3d ago
The team has 40 seconds to snap the ball when the clock is running.
If you are winning, and the other team has no timeouts left, and the previous play ends with under 40 seconds on the clock and the clock running you don't need to snap the ball again, so you don't.
Nothing would be gained by making people wait until the clock actually hits 0 to start shaking hands.
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u/Ryan1869 3d ago
They still run the clock to 0 and the game technically isn’t over till then. Still, if there’s 30 seconds left and a fresh 40 seconds on the play clock then the team doesn’t have to run another play. That’s what you’re seeing.
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u/JonDior 3d ago
In the example where you mention the cardinal Giants game before the pick six, the Cardinals still could’ve scored to win the game and then the pick six was caught with one second on the game clock, but the play was already alive. They’re not gonna rule it dead even if the time ran out, the cardinals could’ve made them fumble and still score. versus when there’s a game where it’s pretty obvious the losing team isn’t gonna score enough points to catch up. With 1:20 secs or less on the clock the winning team could take a knee three times to let the clock run out and teams were pretty much shake hands to acknowledge that the game is over
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u/AusteegLinks 3d ago
Since you bought it up, I had never heard of a Pick 6 before that game. I see the play, and the Giants player intercepts the ball.
Is an interception also called a 'pick'?
I can only assume that it refers to an interception in the end zone where if they didn't intercept the ball, the other team would have scored a TD. Is that right?
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u/Sad-Umpire6000 3d ago
A pick is an interception. A pick 6 is when the player making the interception takes the ball all the way to the end zone for a touchdown.
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u/Excellent_Mood3090 3d ago
Also just in case it isn't obvious, it's called a Pick 6 because a touchdown is worth 6 points.
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u/warlikeloki 3d ago
slight correction - a pick 6 is when the team that made the interception runs the ball into the endzone. If the guy with the pick pitches the ball to another player who then scores it is still a pick 6. Nit-picky, but true.
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u/JHadenfe 3d ago edited 3d ago
Pick is another term for an interception. A pick 6 is one that was returned for a touchdown. So it is a play where the defense ends up scoring themselves, without their offense even needing to snap the ball.
I've heard scoop and score used for the fumble equivalent(recovering a fumble and then returning it for a touchdown).
And the game doesn't officially end until the game clock expires and the play comes to an end. You'll sometimes see teams shake hands with time on the clock if the game has reached a point where the trailing team can't come back. But as long as a play is started before the clock hits 0, the game lasts until the play ends(by someone being downed by contact, the ball going out of bounds, the ball carrier stepping out of bounds, or a score).
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u/Maniac1978 3d ago
Something fun that I always look for when an interception is thrown. If I can find the quarterback that threw the interception, try to watch them during the play while also watching the ball carrier. I enjoy doing this because if the quarterback goes to make any kind of play on the ball carrier a lot times he will get absolutely destroyed by a large defensive player during the return.
It’s completely legal to block the quarterback on an interception return, many will block them very hard.
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u/MarcatBeach 3d ago
Wait until you run into a game where the clock has run out but the defense keeps doing stupid penalties. Games cannot end on a defensive penalty.
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u/Serious_Plant8443 3d ago
Welcome! Fellow Melbournite who's a few years into watching. Folk have already explained it well. One thing they probably didn't mention is remember there's no % in NFL like there is in footy. So no reason to play more and get more points if you know you're going to win. Hence the kneeling. Close finishes in NFL are super exciting but I do find those ones that finish with a knee do feel a bit lacklustre. Also very frustrating when there's still potential plays for your fantasy team to score on! 😂.
Still, I've really come to enjoy the sport. I used to really turn my nose up at it but now I understand it I can't get enough of it. And people who complain about the wait between plays, it's really not that different to cricket.
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u/AusteegLinks 3d ago
Thanks!
I am definitely enjoying the sport - I used to turn my nose up at it too, but it is a heck of a lot more exciting than the cricket and is over a lot quicker too, so it's the perfect off-season sport to watch for any AFL/NRL fans
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u/ImNotTheBossOfYou 3d ago
It's a math problem that involves how many timeouts the team who is behind has, how many downs are left, and the fact that there is a :40 second play clock.
So, if it's first down, and the team with the lead has the ball, and the other team has no timeouts, the offense can run 2:00 off the clock just by running the "QB Kneel" play three times.
(The QB kneel play is a play where the QB gives himself up right away to end the play with the clock running. According to the rules it's just a "regular" running play, but it is safe and has little risk of a fumble/turnover.)
However, for each timeout the losing team has, subtract :40 seconds.
So, a lot of times, if the team with the lead has the ball and there is around 2 minutes left, if you do the math, you can tell if a "first down wins the game."
Of course, you have to run the "QB Kneel" play without fumbling. It has happened:
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u/nkyguy1988 3d ago
I have the ball, I'm winning, there's 30 seconds left, and you cant stop the clock. Theres nothing I'm going to do that gives you the chance to get the ball because I'm not snapping it.
The game is functionally over.
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u/abqkat 2d ago
Okay, follow up question: how does the offense signal to the defense that they're going to kneel it out? Sometimes it's not readily obvious, do they tell the defensive line something that I just missed or can't hear?
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u/nkyguy1988 2d ago
The will line up in what is called "victory formation". Its also so common that teams just do it and expect it.
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u/mack_dd 3d ago edited 2d ago
(1) You have a play clock of 45 seconds on each play and if you dont snap, get called for "delay of game" [NFL equivilant to timewasting]
(2) If you kneel down w/ less than 45 seconds left, and the opponent has no timeouts left, you can just do nothing and the game will be over in less than 45 seconds.
(3) The NFL just lets the teams clear their benches and shake hands and all that. I guess technically, both teams could get called for too many men on the field, or sideline interference. Then again, the offense is not lined up on the line of scribbiage, so they just sort of let that slide.
edit -- 40 seconds, dont know why I was thinking 45
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u/WebRedditor 3d ago
40 seconds.
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u/LuciferOnTheRocks 3d ago
I was gonna Google it. It's too early in the morning for people to be gaslighting me like that. 😅
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u/ryacual 3d ago
Ok lets say the offense( team with ball) is winning. And the clock is running. The defense has no time outs and theres 25 seconds on the play clock but only 18 seconds of the game clock then the game is over. Usually this happens if they get a first down or after a kneel when they know its over. But a kneel is more ceremonious.
In baseball if home team is winning they dont even finish the ninth inning the game is just over
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u/egnaro2007 3d ago
If a team is winning and has possession of the ball the will kneel the ball to end the game. I think its 30- 40 seconds per down so if they have a first down the game is over with a minute left.
There's no incentive for them to risk a fumble or interception to pad their stats
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u/XSmooth84 3d ago
There’s the 40 second “play clock”, and on any play where the clock isn’t otherwise stopped (penalty, time out called, incomplete pass, run out of bounds, or a score) the game clock also runs. The offense does not have to run a play until the 40 seconds is up. If the offense is winning, the clock is running, and it’s less than 40 seconds left then there doesn’t need to be a play.
Could the NFL pass some rule that says nobody can come on the field until the clock literally goes to 0? I guess they could but nobody really cares to make such a policy. It’s just one of those things that’s always been allowed.
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u/2LostFlamingos 3d ago
If the team with the ball is winning, and defense can’t stop with a timeout, then the game is over once the play clock is more than game clock.
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u/YayzTheInsane 3d ago
The play clock for a down is 40 seconds which means 4 downs is 160 seconds or 2 minutes and 40 seconds
If the leading team has possession of the ball, there's less time than that left, and the opposing team has no timeouts, they can keep snapping the ball and immediately take a knee to wind the clock down
The other team accepts this because mistakes are unlikely and it would be a dick move to injure someone, so it becomes a formality at that point
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u/Mowo5 3d ago
The game clock still runs if the quarterback takes a knee. They have to run a play before the play clock ends, which is 40 seconds. If there is less than 40 seconds on the game clock and the quarterback takes a knee, they can let time run out and not have to run another play. (they will do this if they are winning at that point).
Technically the game has not ended before the game clock runs out, but everyone agrees the game is mostly over, that's why they wander off the field or start shaking hands. The only thing that could stop the clock at that point would be an offensive penalty, and I don't know if a player has ever been dumb enough to commit one during that time.
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u/Mistermxylplyx 3d ago
When the team with the ball has a lead, and there’s less than 40 seconds left (play clock max), and the defense is out of timeouts, the offense doesn’t have to run a play before the game clock is gonna run out. So instead of standing around waiting, they get the endgame pleasantries started before it’s official, but quite inevitable.
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u/KewCubed 3d ago
it’s like a game of chess, there could be like everyone is saying, 40 seconds left on the clock but there’s no moves for the losing team left to make so the winning team performs a play that keeps the clock moving until it hits 0 and everyone concedes and starts the end of game handshakes etc
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u/kj_stormy 3d ago
If all the team with the ball needs to do to win the game is take a knee (or multiple) then the game is over
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u/shaggy24200 3d ago
Remember there's a play clock of 45 seconds. If there's less time on the game clock than the play clock and the offense is in possession of the ball and ahead in points, then the game is effectively just going to run out of time anyway. At that point they'll usually just start walking off as time counts down.
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u/ItsAGoodLifeTZ 3d ago
*40
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u/danhoang1 3d ago
Me wondering why there are not 1, but 2 people in this thread who mistakenly answered saying there’s “45 seconds”
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u/Personal-Finance-943 3d ago
Gotta be a search engine AI somewhere that has it wrong? I did check with Google and it's correct.
Maybe the 25 second play clock confused them? Weird coincidence if that's the case
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u/AusteegLinks 3d ago
Lol I am such a noob I didn't realise there was a play clock.
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u/rabonbrood 3d ago
We were all new at some point. Feel free to keep asking questions, and one day you'll be answering them.
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u/Professional-Pool656 3d ago
Even if they have all 3 time outs game is over because they can just kneel 3 times so it’s a waste and a dick move. They can’t get the ball back to try to win so games over
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u/Temporary_Pie2733 2d ago
The shaking hands, etc is all after timeouts are used. Otherwise, the teams do need to go through the motions of taking the timeout, running a do-nothing play, etc.
(Unless they changed something in the last 20 years or so like MLB’s stupid intentional-walk rule. It’s been a while since I’ve watched NFL games. )
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u/Professional-Pool656 2d ago
Not if the number of plays to 4th down exceeds the number of time outs and time is under the play clock. So say u have 3 time outs and it’s 38 seconds on the clock and they kneel it you don’t have to use the time outs and make them rekneel because you don’t have enough time to get ball back so it’s just a waste if time. In that case there is no way u can get the ball back game is over so when they kneel even though u have time outs the game is over.
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u/thisdude1996 3d ago
Sometimes the points difference is too much and there's no possible way for a comeback
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u/Mysterious-Tie7039 3d ago
Only timeouts, incomplete passes, and stepping out of bounds stop the clock at the end of the game.
If the offense is winning, the clock is running, the defense doesn’t have any timeouts, and the play clock has more time left than the game clock, then the game will end before the offense gets a delay of game penalty. As there’s nothing the defense can do to stop the clock, the game is effectively over, so the offense can walk off.
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u/Useful_Pangolin8006 3d ago
Teams have 40 seconds between plays to snap the ball. If the team that has the ball is winning they can run down the clock and then just not snap the ball. They just aren’t doing the show of getting ready. If they do keep playing they risk a pick 6. It’s just another way to manage the clock. Instead of pretending to play they just admit that the games over
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u/MilleryCosima 3d ago
When there's less time on the play clock than the game clock, the winning team has the ball, and the losing team has no way to stop the clock, everyone just assumes there won't be another play and comes out onto the field.
The game still isn't technically over until the clock hits zero, but there's no reason for them to run another play.
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u/JohnnyKarateX 3d ago
If the team with the ball is in the lead and the play clock has more time left than the game clock and the game clock is running (including the losing team having no timeouts) then that team has no incentive to run another play so they start to walk off early because there isn’t going to be another play.
The game also won’t end with a play in progress so with that interception by the Giants the defender decided to run it into the endzone because you don’t get many chances to score as a defender but he also could have just slid once time was out and saved himself some running.
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u/aokguy 3d ago
Hey friend. So with 2 minutes left to go the team with the lead only has to let the clock hit 0 to win. The offense is required to snap the ball every 40 seconds unless they will be penalized for delay of game. If there is under 40 seconds left in the game, the offense doesn't need to take another snap and the game is essentially over since the opposing team can no longer stop the clock.
The reason you've seen other games to down to the last second, is because the teams on offense were trailing in the game. Since they needed to score to win they will keep trying untill the clock hits 0.
Does that make sense?
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u/Normal_Opposite_9864 3d ago
if the team can't or wont stop the clock and are losing, they let it run off ... its not officially over, but no one is going to do anything
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u/frostyflakes1 3d ago
In those situations, the team with the ball can simply kneel the ball and run the clock out. The other team cannot do anything to stop them. The game is over even before the clock hits zero.
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u/Accomplished-Test331 3d ago
If the clock is running and there are less than 40 seconds on the clock, the game is over if the team with possession wants it to be, as they don’t have to snap the ball before the game clock runs out
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u/SelfRepa 3d ago
Game is over, if opponent does not have a way or need to stop the clock. If there is 30 seconds to go and 40 seconds on the play clock, losing team has no timeout or the game is too far out of reach, they just let the time run out and call it a day.
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u/Novel_Willingness721 2d ago
Because there is a “play clock” where a team must run a play within a 40 second window, if the team that’s leading is on offense and there is 39 second or less on the game clock, then the team in the lead doesn’t need to run a play to run out the game clock. So, the game is effectively over. Could the winning team run another play? Sure, but there is no reason to. In fact doing so there’s a non-zero chance that something fluky happens and they lose the game.
The cardinals giants game the cardinals were trying to win the game (they were down 6 points). So they played until the last second.
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u/RobotShlomo 2d ago
If the team with the ball has the lead and the opposing team is out of timeouts with no way to get the ball back, then they can run the clock down to where the game clock has less time on it than the play clock. That way the offense can down the ball with time still left on the game clock, and the game can essentially be over even with time left.
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u/RedBloodedCommie 2d ago
If there is any possibility for the offensive team to kneel the ball and win the game, they will take it. The defense knows this and will act accordingly. In addition, the offense also lines up in a “victory formation” where everyone surrounds the quarterback so he can kneel the ball cleanly, which the defense will see.
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u/throwaway60457 1d ago edited 1d ago
The "victory formation" came about after the 1978 incident still known to this day as the "Miracle at the Meadowlands." Leading 17-12 in the last 30 seconds of the game, the New York Giants called a draw play to kill the remaining clock. The hand-off from QB Joe Pisarcik to RB Larry Csonka was botched, and the Philadelphia Eagles' Herm Edwards caught the ball on one hop and took it 30-ish yards for a shocking Eagles touchdown.
The extra point gave the Eagles a 19-17 lead, and the Giants were unable to score in the dying seconds, thus making 19-17 the final score. Giants OC Bob Gibson was fired the next day. The game reflected the changing fortunes of the two teams: two years later the Eagles went to the Super Bowl, while the Giants would fall into irrelevance for the next several years.
In the weeks after the Miracle at the Meadowlands, offensive coaches began to develop the concept of the victory formation. Certainly by the 1979 season at the latest, the victory formation was a staple in every playbook on earth.
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u/hilariouscommenter 2d ago
If you watch the basketball, when one team is up By a lot, nobody is really playing in that last minute either. Soccer and hockey, as well. The difference is those sports, the ball (or puck) is always live. Football is a little different because the action only happens after the ball is hiked. If the clock is running and will take you to the final whistle, then game is essentially settled
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u/Koshea69 1d ago
If the team with the ball is winning and they play clock that they are required to snap the ball before has more time on it than the game clock then they dont have to snap the ball again before the game is over so the game is basically over.
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u/throwaway60457 1d ago
Once the time left on the play clock exceeds the time left on the game clock, the offensive team need not run another play, provided the defensive team is out of time-outs. Assuming the offensive team leads the game (because why else would they be taking a knee), if the game clock reaches 0:39 on a kneel-down, no further plays need to be run.
For what it's worth, the play clock is 40 seconds, and in the NFL, the play clock begins to count down from 40 a few seconds after the preceding play ended.
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u/Express_Pilot_3136 1d ago
Additionally, if the defensive team has all of their timeouts (3) available, but they are behind in the score by a significant amount,i.e. 30 points., a lot of coaches will not even waste everybody’s time in calling timeouts. It is not mandatory to use any timeouts they may still have available to them.
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u/throwaway60457 1d ago
Yes, that is true. If the outcome hasn't been in doubt for a while, the losing team will just want to get the game over with. It happens less commonly, but it does happen.
It isn't mandatory to be an asshole and use all of your time-outs in a game you are going to lose? Somebody needs to inform head coaches at Michigan. Rich Rodriguez did it against Illinois in 2009, Jim Harbaugh did it to Florida State in the Orange Bowl that followed the 2016 season, and Kyle Whittingham did it to Minnesota a little over a week ago.
Source: watched the Illinois game from the south end zone at Memorial Stadium and the other two on television
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u/polkjamespolk 3d ago
When the team with more points has possession, and the team with fewer points has no time outs, AND there are 30 seconds or less on the clock, the quarterback can down the ball.
The game ends because there is no way for the defense to stop the clock and the offense doesn't have to run a play with under 30 seconds
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u/rademradem 2d ago
I am a proponent of a rule change to remove the need to kneel down. Teams should be allowed to notify the referee when there are 2 minutes or less on the clock at the end of a half or of the game that they opt to take consecutive 5-yard penalties with no game clock stoppage for the rest of the period.
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u/DrSnidely 2d ago
There is a very slight chance that there could be a fumbled snap on a kneel down.
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u/TAJmahal6884 3d ago
Many times, a team is out of timeouts and/or is losing by a considerable amount. If the leading team has the ball with less than two minutes left in the game, they'll just kneel it out to keep the clock running. No sense in running plays and risk injury for players you don't want to get injured.