What Does 1st and 10 Mean in the NFL? Explained Simply

Learn what 1st and 10 means in the NFL, including how downs work and what happens if a team fails to advance 10 yards.

216 views

1st and 10 in the NFL means it's the team's first attempt (down) to advance the ball 10 yards. If successful, they get a new set of downs (four attempts) to continue moving forward. Failing to gain 10 yards in four attempts results in a turnover.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What happens after 1st and 10 in the NFL? After 1st and 10, the team has four downs to advance the ball 10 yards. If successful, they receive a new set of downs starting again with 1st and 10.
  2. How many downs does a team get in the NFL? A team gets four downs (attempts) to advance the ball at least 10 yards to earn a new set of downs.
  3. What is a turnover in NFL downs? A turnover occurs if a team fails to advance the required 10 yards after four downs, resulting in the other team gaining possession of the ball.