football

I

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [A sport]

Syn. American football, Association football, rugby, soccer, the pigskin sport*, grid game*, gridiron pastime*.

2. [The ball used in football]

Syn. regulation football, pigskin*, oval*, inflated oval*, apple*, bacon*, hide*, porkhide*, leather oval*, peanut*, pineapple*, porker*, moleskin*, sphere*, watermelon*.

The teams of the National Football League include --- National Conference: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New YOrk Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins; American Conference: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New YOrk Jets, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks.

II

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

sport.

WORD FIND

• ball, slang for: pigskin

• ball snapper: center

• center of defensive line: nose guard, nose tackle

• defends against passes and runs into the backfield: defensive back, safety, cornerback

• defensive backfield: secondary

• defensive players just behind linemen: linebackers

• downing of ball in offense’s end zone, two points to defense: safety

• encroaching into opposing team’s side before ball is snapped: offside, encroachment

• extra point kick after touchdown: conversion

• faking a handoff and running with ball hidden behind hip: bootleg

• faking a handoff to running back, who pretends to run with ball hidden in arms, then passing: play-action pass

• field: gridiron

• five back defense: nickel defense

• foul in which player without ball is hit from behind: clipping

• imaginary line where ball is down: line of scrimmage

• kickoff in which ball lands in receiving team’s end zone: touchback

• kickoff to opposing side: punt

• kick that is low and tumbling, employed to force fumble: onside kick

• know-it-all fan who criticizes players: armchair quarterback, Monday morning quarterback

• lateral pass or handoff followed by surprise pass: flea-flicker

• line-drive pass: bullet

• line-of-scrimmage player: lineman

• long pass requiring small miracle to be caught: Hail Mary, prayer

• offensive alignment in which quarterback takes snap standing several yards back from center: shotgun

• offensive back behind or near quarterback: fullback, halfback running back

• passes, hands off, runs, calls plays: quarterback

• pass that imparts spin on ball and keeps it from tumbling: spiral, bullet

• play change called out at line of scrimmage: audible

• quarterback’s eluding of tacklers: scrambling

• run and handoff to player running in opposite direction: reverse

• score: touchdown

• sideways or backwards pass: lateral

• six back defense: dime defense

• slamming ball down in end zone after scoring touchdown: spike

• surprise run by quarterback: quarterback sneak

• surprise rush: blitz

• tackle with arm swung into opponent’s neck or head: clothesline

• tailback, halfback and fullback form a line behind quarterback: I formation