The athletes storm into a clash, wrestling each other as their cleats tear up the field, mangling the AstroTurf and uprooting it from the cold hard ground. The leather ball gets kicked in its ribs, soaring through the air, flying between a golden fork before crashing in a soft thud.

Football is one of the most popular sports in the US, with the Super Bowl consistently raking in millions of dollars, though many watch it simply for the ads. However, despite its wide array of positions and strategies, football isn’t really as complicated as it seems.

Football is a relatively simple sport; both teams try to get points, and whoever has the most points wins. Where the complexity comes in is how players score these points: a touchdown, where a player brings the ball into the opponent’s end zone, is worth six points. Points can be scored after touchdowns, whether they be through a 1 or 2 point conversion. A field goal is worth three points, where the ball is kicked through the field goal post. Lastly, if the offense commits a foul, or their quarterback is brought down in their own endzone, a safety is awarded to the opposing team, giving them two points.

You may recognize many celebrities from the NFL: Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and many more. However, you may not know exactly what their role is on their given team. There are too many positions in football to count, but one of the most popular is the Quarterback (QB), who leads the offense and passes the ball to the receivers. The Running Back (RB) runs with the ball in order to try to reach the opponent’s end zone.

In football, defensive positions are key to stopping the opposing offense. The Defensive End (DE) rushes the quarterback and contains outside rushing plays. Similarly, the Defensive Tackles (DF) fill gaps, stop the rushing plays, and add pressure on the quarterback. There are also Linebackers, who are supersets into Middle and Outside backers. The middles are the “quarterbacks” of the defense, they tackle runners and drop into pass coverage. The Outside backers stop outside runs, pressure the QB, and cover short passes. A wide guard who helps protect the quarterback by blocking defensive players coming from the outside, creating space for plays to develop.

Football excites millions with its fast-paced action and teamwork, bringing fans together across the country. This season is set to deliver thrilling moments, showing once again why football is one of the most beloved parts of American culture.